Two Firefighters Hurt at N.J. House Fire

Nov. 26, 2013
Two firefighters battling a structure fire in Mays Landing suffered leg injuries from falls on slippery surfaces.

Nov. 25--Two firefighters were injured Sunday night at a blaze on Hilltop Circle in Mays Landing.

Cologne Fire Chief Shawn Vallauri said everyone in the two-story home escaped safely, but one firefighter from the Cologne department and one from the Mays Landing department suffered leg injuries dealing with icy conditions.

One firefighter was treated on scene, while the other was taken to Shore Medical Center.

"The water is almost instantly freezing," said Vallauri, describing how the firefighters were injured as they fell on ice.

The fire was called in shortly after 7 p.m. and was fully involved when fire departments arrived. It wasn't immediately clear how the fire began, Vallauri said.

By 7:45 p.m., more than a dozen emergency vehicles had arrived. Smoke could be seen coming from the top of the house in the back the cul de sac off Victoria Drive. A significant portion of the second story of the home was burned along with a garage.

Fire hoses lined the streets and many neighbors stood outside of their homes watching the fire that they said spread quickly.

The fire damaged two neighboring homes, Vallauri said.

Police said later that the home suffered heavy damage but the fire was under control within 30 minutes.

The Red Cross said that a family of 12, 8 adults and 4 children including one infant, were displaced and were provided with emergency assistance for food, clothing, seasonal clothing and lodging.

Contact Jennifer Bogdan:

609-272-7239

[email protected]

@ACPressJennifer on Twitter

Copyright 2013 - The Press of Atlantic City, Pleasantville, N.J.

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