A father saved his toddler and himself from a second-floor New Jersey apartment to escape the fire by dropping his son and then jumping from the apartment himself. The rescuers caught them both, saving their lives.
The second and third floors of one of the South Ridge Woods Apartment Complex, South Brunswick, were in flames when police and firefighters received numerous calls at around 8:17 AM on Monday, March 7. The FireFire quickly escalated to level three and eventually to level four.
When the police arrived, they found heavy fire in the rear of the building, from the second and third-floor balconies. The fire was spreading into the attic space, according to the Monmouth Junction Fire Department. Residents were immediately evacuated.
However, a father and his toddler were trapped in the blaze.
The big leap
In a footage recorded by one of the responding police officers, police and firefighters urged the man to drop his son from a second-floor balcony. The father dropped the son, and Deputy Chief Jim Ryan said. After Sgt. William Merkler, Patrolman First Class Ryan Bartunek, Det. Sgt. John Penney and Fire Chief Chris Perez caught the toddler. The father lands on the ground seconds later, head first, but rescuers supported his fall. The father and the three-year-old son, were treated for minor injuries.
According to South Brunswick Police Department (SBPD), the fire caused substantial damage in one of the South Ridge Woods complex apartment buildings, causing around six apartments to uninhabitable. Four people are being treated for smoke inhalation. A police spokesman said that at least fifty residents were also displaced, NJ reported. The police also said that 20 people, including nine children, lost their homes.
Despite the damage, South Brunswick Mayor Charlie Carley is thankful that everyone is safe and were evacuated out of the apartment building. He also noted that many "lost everything." He ordered the Social Services Department to lead the relief efforts as financial assistance, gift cards, and food will be provided to the affected residents.
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A Call for help for the fire victims
According to Jeanne Wert, the Director of Social Services, the displaced families most need gift cards: Walmart, Target, Amazon, Stop & Shop, ShopRite. She said the families lost everything. The children of the affected families "went to class and returned to nothing," the South Brunswick Police Department said in its press statement.
The Social Services established two locations for the gift cards to be dropped off:
- South Brunswick Municipal Building (Social Services office) 540 Ridge Road, Monmouth Junction NJ 08852; or
- South Brunswick Community Center 124 New Road, Monmouth Junction NJ 08852.
The South Brunswick School District is also accepting donations for the fire victims.The Red Cross also assisted displaced families.
Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire.
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