Princeton Packet
3 January, 1984

Quick Takes

Fire damages Randall Road home

Twelve people escaped injury in a predawn fire New Year’s Day which extensively damaged the basement of Randall Road house.
Firefighters spent four hours battling the blaze at the home of Irene and John Keigler. The fire apparently started in the fireplace ash pit, located in a basement storage room, according to Princeton Township Police Chief Anthony Pinelli.

Mrs. Keigler said her 20-year-old son, James, was reading in bed at 4:15 a.m. and saw smoke curl through the floor boards. He alerted the family members, who included the Keiglers’ 2-year-old grandson Flames burned the foundation of rooms above the basement but did not enter the main part of the house. Mrs. Keigler said. A damage estimate was not available.

Davison is Princeton’s new fire chief

Terry Davison, a 14-year veteran of Princeton’s Hook and Ladder Co., became chief of the 150-member Princeton fire department Jan. 1, succeeding William Rodweller.

Mr. Davison, who is 35 and lives in Hamilton Square, is a Princeton High School graduate. He served in the U.S. Navy.

The new chief said Tuesday he plans to reorganize the fire police, who control traffic and crowds at fire scenes. Fire police members are a separate unit. Mr. Davison said, and as such should run it themselves and report to the chief monthly.

Mr. Davison’s male family members — including his father, grandfather and uncles — also have been Princeton firefighters.