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(Hillside-WABC, August 6, 2004) -- An elderly couple is in critical condition today after a fire ripped through their home in Hillside, New Jersey overnight.
They believe that fire may have been electrical in nature. The fire gutted the house and sent a couple to this hospital and now they are clinging to life. They are 83-year-old Louise Boehm and husband 91-year-old Fritz Boehm.
The couple was sleeping at 11:30 p.m. last night. They live alone at a house on Thomas Street in Hillside, New Jersey. They have been here for many years according to the neighbors. One older neighbor says they all look out for one another. It appears an old refrigerator in the basement caught fire and that fire spread up and into the house. Neighbors then called for help.
Dave Kaplan, Hillside Fire Department: "The residents next door reported the fire. They had called into police headquarters and then the police responded. There was an initial attempt to get in. On the second attempt in, we did find the victim on the first floor."
John Boehm, Victims Son: "A neighbor saw the smoke and was able to go inside and pull my mom out and call rescue. The rescue squad came and located my dad upstairs."
Both Mr. and Mrs. Boehm were taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation. Mr. Boehm also suffering from some minor burns. They are both in extremely critical condition. Family members are keeping a watch and praying that they do survive this horrible accident. Authorities are investigating this fire.
