Children, Adults Rescued From Hillside Gardens Fire In Woodbridge

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — Multiple residents, including children, were trapped and had to be rescued from their balconies after a massive fire tore through the Hillside Gardens apartment complex in Woodbridge Tuesday night.

The fire broke out just past 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 4 in the Hillside Gardens apartment complex off Rt. 440 in the Keasbey section of Woodbridge. That's a 20-unit apartment complex on Sunnyview Oval; when firefighters got there, they found the entire second story fully engulfed in flames, according to Twp. officials.

As Woodbridge firefighters tried to evacuate the building, they found one resident of a second-floor apartment trapped on the balcony, and had to be rescued by Woodbridge Twp. police. The resident was evaluated for smoke inhalation at the scene. Just minutes later, it was discovered that a second man, an adult, and his son were also trapped on a second-floor balcony. Keasbey firefighters and police were able to use a ladder and rescue the two; both were evaluated by EMTs and were uninjured.

No resident injuries reported, and it is unclear how exactly the fire started. However, 40 people are now homeless because of the rapidly-moving fire, Woodbridge Twp. officials said. Four children, ages 4, 11, 14 and 18, all local Woodbridge Twp. students, are among those displaced and currently homeless.

Nine families were moved by the Hillside Gardens management company (Landmark Co.) to other accommodations. Other displaced residents are staying with relatives.

Red Cross is giving vouchers for food/clothing/shelter to displaced residents. The Woodbridge Township Building Department deemed the building uninhabitable and it is being boarded up.

Woodbridge Mayor John E. McCormac also announced Wednesday the town is accepting donations to assist the residents left homeless. The Woodbridge Community Charity Fund is in place to accept donations of cash, checks and gift cards – the greatest need is for monetary donations and gift cards for food, clothes and household items (kitchen, bath, bedroom). No donations of clothing or household items will be accepted.

Checks should be made out to the Woodbridge Community Charity Fund. Donations can be dropped off at the Mayor’s Office (3rd Floor), Woodbridge Municipal Building, One Main Street or mailed to Woodbridge Community Charity Fund, c/o Office of the Mayor, Woodbridge Municipal Building, One Main Street, Woodbridge, NJ 07095.

Contact the Mayor’s Office at 732-602-6015 or WBMayor@twp.woodbridge.nj.us to obtain additional information.

Responding Emergency Services: (all volunteer fire fighters)

Woodbridge Police Department
Kearbey Fire Department
Hopelawn Fire Department
Perth Amboy Fire Department
Metuchen Fire Department
Melrose Fire Department
South Amboy Fire Department
Woodbridge Fire Districts #11, #9, #5 and #7
Woodbridge EMS
Woodbridge Township Office of Emergency Management
Woodbridge Township C.E.R.T.
PSE&G and Elizabethtown Gas Company responded to shut off utility services
Middlesex County Public Safety and Health Department
American Red Cross

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