82 Year Old Injured In Middletown Apartment Fire Identified

MIDDLETOWN, NJ— An 82-year-old man was seriously injured in an apartment fire over the weekend, the Middletown Police and Fire Departments said in a statement.

The fire broke out at the Shadow Lake Village 55 and older community late Saturday afternoon, just before 4:00 p.m. Police officials said the fire was an accident.

Louis Rabena, 82, was found outside the building with second and third degree burns on his hands, head and face, as well as smoke inhalation. He was taken by helicopter to the St. Barnabas Hospital burn center.

Rabena is currently in stable, but critical, condition.

65 firefighters from five companies of the Middletown Township Fire Department responded, and 12 emergency medical service workers helped citizens and firefighters at the scene.

The apartment where the fire first started was fully destroyed, and the apartment directly below it suffered extensive water damage. The two adjoining units had cosmetic damages to the walls and ceilings.

"Several" other people were injured, Dennis Fowler, an official with the Middletown Township Fire Department, said.

The fire was under control by 4:45 p.m., and the last units left at 11:00 p.m. Although the fire was determined to be accidental, fire officials are still investigating the source.

Images via MTFD PIO Laura Kegley