HOPATCONG BOROUGH, NJ (Sussex County) – Two Hopatcong officers were injured after they attempted to rescue a woman from a burning home.
The structure fire with entrapment was reported at 8:30 p.m. at 73 Elba Ave, police said.
When Hopatcong officers Maresca, Still and Cirri arrived on scene, the officers observed thick black smoke coming out of the house, police said.
A caretaker was outside yelling that a woman is bedridden and was still inside the home.
Still and Cirri attempted to crawl into the home to find the woman but as they crawled about two feet into the house, they had to stop due to the heavy smoke. The officers then exited the home to catch their breath, police said.
Maresca heard woman yell from the living room and Maresca and Cirri then entered the home to get to the female. Maresca was able to grab the hospital bed that the female was in and pull it closer to the front door, police said.
As Maresca was dragging the bed, he went down. Cirri then dragged Maresca out of the home and once outside, Maresca got up and was able to talk, police said.
Cirri reentered the home and was able to pull the hospital bed closer to the door. He was unable to get the woman out of the bed. He then was overcome by smoke and had to back out, police said.
The Hopatcong Fire Department arrived and was able to get the female out of the house, police said.
Once outside,Cirri and Still rendered first aid to the female who was on oxygen. she then began talking to the officers and seemed “okay,” police said.
Maresca and Still were treated for smoke inhalation and later released from the hospital, police said.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation but it appears it is and electrical fire by the electrical panel, police said.
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By: Jay Edwards Follow on Twitter | Like on Facebook
