To the Editor:

I am writing to express our deep appreciation for the exceptional work of local first responders following the explosion at University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro Thursday night [April 10].

Thank you to the Plainsboro police and all the fire companies and ambulance crews that responded — including Plainsboro, Princeton, Princeton Junction, Monmouth Junction, Kingston, Kendall Park and the Princeton University Plasma Physics Laboratory — along with the county fire coordinators for Mercer and Middlesex. We also would like to thank the local Plainsboro officials, the Middlesex County Fire Investigation Unit, and the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, who continue investigating the cause of the explosion.

We are grateful to these groups for their rapid response, expertise, and effective collaboration with our physicians, nurses, and other staff. There was a tremendous sense of teamwork as everyone involved responded with skill and compassion in the midst of a challenging situation.

The collaboration between all first responders at the hospital that night helped us to ensure the safety and well-being of our patients and visitors, as well as the injured staff member.

Barry S. Rabner

President and CEO, Princeton HealthCare System