Man Rescued By Cop In Ocean County Fire

LAKEWOOD – A resident was seriously injured but rescued by police during a fire where two firefighters were also taken to a hospital.

Around 1:20 a.m. on May 4, first responders found a home on Joe Parker Road engulfed in heavy flames.

Occupants of the home told emergency personnel that a man remained unaccounted for. He was later located inside the home and was rescued by an Officer from the Lakewood Township Police Department, officials said. He was brought to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune for treatment of his injuries and is listed in critical but stable condition.

The officer who rescued the man was transported to Monmouth Medical Center-Southern Campus in Lakewood, where he was treated for smoke inhalation and released, officials said.

While extinguishing the fire, a firefighter suffered a cardiac event and was brought to Ocean University Medical Center in Brick Township, where he was treated and released.

After investigating the home, authorities discovered that the fire originated underneath the attached screened-in deck. The cause of the fire was due to discarded smoking material, officials said.

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer acknowledged the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Arson Squad, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Lakewood Township Police Department Detective Bureau, Lakewood Township Police Department, and Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office, for their combined and cooperative efforts in connection with this investigation.