New Jersey

Retired Firefighter Dies After Lawn Mower Catches Fire

A retired firefighter died from his injuries after his lawn mower suddenly caught fire in Burlington County, New Jersey, Sunday afternoon.

Roger Lippincott, 79, was operating a lawn mower on the 2200 block of Saylors Pond Road in Jobstown around 2:30 p.m. when it suddenly burst into flames.

Lippincott suffered severe burns and died from his injuries at the scene.

Officials continue to investigate the cause of the fire.

Lippincott was a longtime member of the Springfield Township Fire Company, according to the Springfield Township Fire Company Chief Brian Kokotajlo. He also served as Springfield Township's emergency manager coordinator and taught at Burlington County's Fire Academy.

"It's very shocking," said Lois Thomas, Lippincott's neighbor. "Mr. Lippincott was a fixture in this town." 

Chief Kokotajlo told NBC10 Lippincott is the second retired Springfield Township firefighter to die in a fire-related accident in the last two years.

New Jersey State Police headed the investigation into the deadly blaze, said Kokotajlo.

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