Cop, Guard Save Woman, 87, In Shadow Lake Fire In Middletown

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — A security guard at the Shadow Lake condo complex, and a Middletown police officer, pulled an 87-year-old woman out of her burning Shadow Lake condo after it caught fire Saturday night, Middletown police said.

Her husband, 91, had already gotten out. However, a pet was found inside the home and, despite efforts made by firefighters to give it oxygen with a pet oxygen mask, the animal did not survive.

Both the security guard and the police officer will be honored at the Middletown Twp. Committee meeting Monday night, Dec. 17.

The fire broke out at approximately 7:20 p.m. this past Saturday, Dec. 15 at a home on Friendship Court in the Shadow Lake Village condo community. Shadow Lake Village is a 55 and over age-restricted community in the River Plaza section of Middletown Township.

The community has private security guards who are assigned to the complex by Marion Security,
which is located in Red Bank. The security officers staff the front gate and patrol the complex. Upon hearing the report of the fire, Security Officer Keith Thornton, 31, of Asbury Park,
responded to the scene and found the man outside the house. He told the guard that his wife was still inside, however.

Thornton went into the burning home and was able to locate the woman lying on the kitchen floor. Thornton then began to move the woman towards the door. However, due to the excessive smoke in the home, Security Officer Thornton had to evacuate to get air.

Patrolman Nicholas Manochio, who was the first police officer to arrive on location, spoke with
Thornton and learned that the woman was still inside the structure. He ran inside and was able to pull her her out. She, along with her husband, were transported to Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank to be treated for non-life threatening smoke inhalation.

The pet was found later during a search of the building. Despite on-scene efforts to resuscitate the animal with specialized pet masks (donated by the Canine Company earlier in 2018), the pet did not survive. Last March, the Middletown Township Fire Department received a donation of 11 sets of specially-designed pet oxygen mask kits. Tragically, an estimated 40,000 pets die each year nationwide from smoke inhalation. The pet oxygen masks donated to Middletown are specifically designed for the shape of an animal's snout.

And the masks have been used successfully: In May of this year, two cats were pulled out of a burning building in Belford, and their lives were saved using the special pet oxygen masks. Read about that incident: Cats Saved From Burning Home With Oxygen Masks: Middletown EMS

Past Patch reporting: Middletown Fire Dept. Gets 11 Pet Oxygen Masks

Middletown Chief Ryan Clarke made sure the condo was empty and people in adjacent condos were evacuated. Positive pressure ventilation was employed to make the interior safer to work in and help expose hot spots. Thermal imaging cameras were used to ensure all fire was found and extinguished. The condo sustained heavy fire and smoke damage throughout. The fire was called under control by Chief Clarke at 7:50 p.m. All units were cleared from the scene at 9:17 p.m.

Approximately 60 members from five companies of the Middletown Township Fire Department responded to the call, from River Plaza Hose Company, Middletown Township Fire, Lincroft Fire Company, Belford Independent Fire Company and Community Fire Company of Leonardo. The MTFD Air Unit and the Safety Unit responded. No firefighter injuries were reported.

Ten EMS members from Lincroft, Fairview and Leonardo First Aid responded. In addition to treating the two residents for smoke inhalation, they also provided firefighter rehabilitation and medical services.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation and is being investigated by the Middletown Township Fire Marshall’s office.

Photos were provided by Middletown Township Fire Department PIO Photographer Laurie Kegley.