Cranford Nursing Home Fire Traps 2 Patients Inside

CRANFORD, NJ - Two nursing home patients in Cranford were rescued after being trapped inside from a fire on Wednesday night.

On May 03 at 7:39 p.m. a 911 reported an active fire at a Birchwood Avenue Nursing Facility in Cranford.

Detective Thomas Stiansen and Officer Gregory Federici arrived first on scene and saw heavy smoke coming from the facility.

Staff members told the officers two patients were trapped in a first-floor room.

As the officers approached the room from the outside, they could hear the occupants screaming for help, police reported.

Stiansen and Federici were able to break through a window to get inside the room and evacuate the patients through the window.

Additional Cranford Police Department Patrol Units and Cranford Fire Department Apparatus arrived on scene.

The fire was located and extinguished. The fire was found to caused from an air conditioning/heating unit mounted inside one of the rooms, Cranford Police. Sgt. Ryan Greco reported.

Stiansen and Federici suffered smoke inhalation, and were transported to St. Barnabas Hospital, where they were treated and released.

In addition, four patients of the facility were transported to area hospitals for evaluation.

“The heroic efforts of the Officer’s involved in this incident, and the collaborative teamwork put forth by Police and Fire services, undoubtedly saved lives,” states Cranford Police Chief James Wozniak.

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