Fire-Rescue News- SOMERS POINT - A fire that burned two people in a condominium in the Captains Quarters complex was caused by c
By DEREK HARPER and ELAINE ROSE Staff Writers | Posted: Thursday, April 29, 2010 | 1 comment
SOMERS POINT - A fire that burned two people in a condominium in the Captains Quarters complex was caused by cooking an illicit substance, probably methamphetamine, police said Thursday night.
The registered tenant, Samantha Godelski, 26, was taken to the trauma unit of....Continue Reading
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AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, City Campus, and was released Thursday evening, Capt. Michael Boyd said.
Her boyfriend, Joseph Eguaras, 32, who was staying with Godelski but has a Ventnor address, suffered more serious burns and was airlifted to the Crozer-Chester burn center in Upland, Pa., where he remained in critical condition Thursday night, Boyd said.
The unit was heavily damaged by the fire, Boyd said. After the area was made safe Wednesday night, residents of other units in that building were allowed to return home.
Firefighters were called to the third-floor apartment at 150 W. Cedar Ave. shortly after 9 p.m. Wednesday for a kitchen fire. The complex is a series of three-story light-blue buildings off Bethel Road and adjacent to the bike path.
During the investigation, investigators found chemicals in the condominium, and police called the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boyd said. The substances were taken to the DEA lab for analysis.
Pending the analysis, it is believed that the couple were cooking a batch of methamphetamine, Boyd said. As of Thursday night, no criminal charges have been filed.
On Thursday afternoon the apartment was obviously burned, its windows missing, and char marks on the ceiling were visible from the street.
By 4:30 p.m., officers at the scene had taken the step of probing a nearby Lexus sedan.
A half dozen uniformed and plainclothes officers surrounded the dark silver vehicle in the parking lot, its doors open and contents on the ground around it.
Leslie Furey, of Burlington County, who owns the unit with her husband, John, declined to comment Thursday evening.
Boyd said Wednesday night's fire was the first incident of its type in the 23 years he has been on the police force.
Detective Sgt. Robert Somers is handling the investigation, along with the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office, the DEA and the State Police Hazmat Unit, Boyd said.
Contact Derek Harper: 609-272-7046 DHarper@pressofac.com
Posted in NORTHFIELD LINWOOD SOMERS-POINT | ATLANTIC | BREAKING on Thursday, April 29, 2010 7:50 pm Updated: 10:04 pm.
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