2 Pre-Teen Girls Save Families In North Middletown House Fire

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Two Middletown pre-teen girls are being hailed as heroes after they woke up and saved multiple people from a fire that broke out late last Wednesday night.

Ja’mera Carter, 11 years old, lives next door to the home that caught fire, on Ideal Ave in North Middletown.

At 3 a.m. last Thursday, flames broke out inside the home.

Carter was woken up and saw flames coming out of her neighbor’s house, said the Middletown Fire Dept. She woke up all her sleeping family members and got everyone outside. The young girl told firefighters that it was information she learned from her school's Fire Prevention Week that helped her know what to do.

Inside the home that was on fire, Gianna Santilli, age not given, was woken up by the sounds of her home's smoke alarms going off and was able to wake up her mother. Her mother suffered first- and second-degree burns to her arm, but otherwise is OK.

Both were able to get out the house.

The Middletown fire department would like to give special recognition to Gianna and Ja'mera. Gianna and Ja’meras’ actions were able to save lives.

About 40 firefighters from East Keansburg Fire Company, Port Monmouth Fire Company, Independent Fire Company of Belford, and Community Fire Company responded.

East Keansburg Fire Company arrived and immediately began fire suppression operations, while Port Monmouth Fire Company arrived and began Search and Rescue operations, deploying their power ladder from their apparatus.

Firefighters did not leave the scene until 8:15 a.m.

The Middletown Township Fire Department would like to remind residents that smoke alarms save lives. If you need a smoke alarm, please reach out to your local firehouse or contact the Middletown Township Fire Prevention Office at (732) 615-2270.