Family of 3 dead

[MustanGT1964]

General Fire Alarm was dispatched at 0508 hours to Hazlet, North Centerville, and West Keansburg Fire Companies for a possible trailer fire in Bayshore Mobile Manor in the West Keansburg section of the Township. A second dispatch upgrading the incident to a working structure fire with possible entrapment was issued at 0510.

The first arriving fire engine, Engine 34 of the West Keansburg Fire Company, stretched a 5” supply line from a fire hydrant located on Brown Avenue to the fire scene. They encountered heavy fire conditions and began an attack of the fire and primary search for possible entrapped occupants through the front door. Second due fire engine, Engine 22 of the North Centerville Vol. Fire Company, stretched a second attack line and initiated a primary search through a rear door.

While the attack lines began extinguishing the fire, the search team form North Centerville Fire Co. located and removed the first occupant from a rear bedroom. A second occupant was also located and removed from the rear bedroom. Firefighters from West Keansburg Fire Co. located and removed a third occupant from a second bedroom. Hazlet Fire Company No. 1 provided fire suppression support throughout the incident. The fire was brought under control at approximately 0540 hours.

The three victims, who all died from their injuries, have been identified as Katherine Arndt, 37, Matthew Paduano, 24, and Zachary Arndt, 9.

Fire Units from Hazlet Fire Company No. 1, North Centerville Vol. Fire Company No. 1, and West Keansburg Fire Company No. 1 responded for fire suppression. Union Beach Fire Department and Matawan Fire Department were dispatched for Rapid Intervention Team support. First Aid squads from Hazlet, Keyport, Union Beach, and Keansburg were dispatched for EMS response.

Hazlet Township Police, Monmouth County Fire Marshall’s Office, and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office are investigating the incident.


Please, pray for the family of the victims.