Lacey Police Officers Awarded For Saving Woman Trapped In Burning Home

LACEY, NJ — Two Lacey Township police officers were presented with the Lifesaving and Meritorious Service awards for saving the life of a woman who was trapped in a burning house in January.

Officers Noah Schaffer and Alan Abrecht were awarded at the recent department meeting for their actions.

Schaffer and Abrecht responded to a call from a woman whose house caught on fire on January 9, 2022, police said. She said she was stuck inside the house. When they arrived on the scene, the Forked River Fire Department was trying to enter the smoke-filled house. The officers went around the back and made it in, hearing the woman call for help, but had to leave due to overwhelming smoke and alerted the fire department where the woman might be.

Schaffer noticed a break in the smoke and reentered the house to try to find the woman. Abrecht followed him and they found the trapped resident, attempting to free her, police said. At the same time, the fire department entered the house and both the officers and the firefighters carried the resident to safety.

The woman was treated for her injuries she sustained during the fire and recovered. Both Schaffer and Abrecht were treated for smoke inhalation and released.

"The outcome of this incident was a direct result of working in concert with our local emergency services," police said.