Franklin Township, N.J., firefighter Kevin Apuzzio died in a house fire the morning of April 11, according to the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office.
Apuzzio, 21, was a volunteer with the East Franklin Fire Department and a paid-part time EMT with Rutgers University Department of Emergency Services, where he also was a student in the Livingston College studying criminal justice. He had been with Rutgers DES since 2002 and was in the graduating class of 2006.
A prosecutor's report states that a biker placed a 9-1-1 call at approximately 6:12 a.m. reporting the house fire Apuzzio's department responded to.
When fire units arrived at the house, owner William Scott was on the porch and said his wife, Betty, was still inside the house, the report stated.
Apuzzio then joined other firefighters and located the woman in a back room. While transporting the woman out of the house, the floor gave way, sending the firefighters and Scott into the basement, trapping Apuzzio.
Apuzzio was later pronounced dead at the Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in New Brunswick, N.J.
Betty Scott was pronounced dead at the scene while her husband was taken to the hospital for treatment along with four firefighters.
Funeral Information
Funeral Arrangements for Firefighter Apuzzio are as follows. The wake will be held on Monday, April 17th from 12 Noon to 9 P.M. The funeral will be held on Tuesday, April 18th at 10:15 A.M. with fire department services. Following the services there will be a procession to Kevins final resting place in the Mt. Olive Ceremony in Newark. Both the wake and funeral will be held at St. Michaels Church, 1212 Kelly Street in Union, NJ. The burial at Mt. Olive will be limited to the Apuzzio family, and members of the East Franklin FD, Rutgers Emergency Services, and Union EMS. The repast will be held at Casa Del Sol located on Vauxhall Road in Union immediately following the services, all are welcome.
Transportaion details are being set up at this time. We expect to be offering a shuttle and bus service from the Rutgers New Brunswick Campus to and from St. Michaels Church for fire departments and first aid squads attending on both Monday and Tuesday. Location and times of the bus and shuttle service will be posted here shortly. Because of parking limitations and the expected number of organizations attending departments are strongly encouraged to use the bus service provided. Departments may choose to arrange their own transportaion however they are asked NOT to bring apparatus.
Fire Departments wishing to attend are asked to RSVP with the New Brunswick Fire Department at (732) 745-5167. Please include your department name, contact person, and an estimate of personnal expected to attend; please do not call our station number. Fire Departments are asked to wear Class A uniforms. Thank you for your patience as we make these arrangements.Updated 4/13/06 @ 1315 hours.
