MADISON BOROUGH, NJ (Morris County) – Two Madison Borough Police officers, two firefighters and a resident were injured Tuesday in a house fire.
On August 17, at around 5:10 p.m., Madison Police Acting Captain Joseph Longo notified Madison Police Dispatch of smoke coming from a single-family residence on Kings Road. At that time, Madison Fire Department was dispatched to the scene, with Engine 1 & Tower 1 arriving moments later, police said.
In consultation with family members on scene, Acting Captain Longo learned of a resident trapped inside the burning residence. He experienced heavy smoke at the doorway from the residence and realized that a rescue without proper fire gear and breathing apparatus was not possible, police said.
Firefighters Barrios and Norek immediately geared up with protective gear and breathing apparatus to enter the burning residence and initiated a primary search. Firefighter DeRosa arrived a short time later and assisted with the primary search, police said.
During the extensive search, Firefighter Norek broke out a dining room window and called for help as he located the victim. Madison Police Corporal Aquino raced to the exterior window in order assist in the removal of the victim from the window, however was unsuccessful after she encountered heavy smoke from the window, making it difficult to breathe, police said.
Firefighters Barrios, Norek and DeRosa lifted the victim to the window as Morris County Office of Emergency Management Emergency Medical Services EMT Douglas assisted by Sergeant McCarthy and Morris County Office of Emergency Management Emergency Medical Services EMT Kleiman removed the victim from the exterior of the residence. At this same time, Firefighter Norek was low on air and had to be immediately removed from the residence by this same window, police said.
Corporal Aquino, Morris County OEM/EMS EMT Douglas and EMT Kleiman initiated lifesaving aid on the front lawn assisted by Sergeant Walsh of the Chatham Police Department and ultimately Atlantic Paramedics. The victim was transported to Morristown Medical Trauma Center, police said.
The victim’s current condition is unknown.
Sergeant McCarthy and Corporal Aquino were transported to Morristown Medical Center for smoke inhalation. Both were treated and ultimately released. Two additional Madison Firefighters were treated at the scene by the Chatham Emergency Squad, and did not require hospital transport, police said.
Assisting at the scene was the Florham Park Fire Department, Chatham Fire Department, Morris Township Fire Department, Cedar Knolls Fire Department, Morris County Air truck operated by the Morris Plains Fire Department, Morristown Fire Department, Whippany Fire Department, East Hanover Fire Department, Green Village Fire Department, Summit Fire Department, Chatham Township Fire Department, Parsippany District 6 Fire Department, Morris County OEM Fire Coordinators, Madison Ambulance Corps, Chatham Emergency Squad and Morris County OEM Ambulance.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Morris County Prosecutors Office Arson Unit, the Morris County Sheriff’s Office and the Madison Police Bureau of Investigation, police said.