Fire Rescue News - QUICK THINKING BY FIRST RESPONDERS SAVES BRIGANTINE RESIDENTS AND HOME
BRIGANTINE -- Quick thinking by police and firefighters in Brigantine kept a scary early morning fire from becoming tragic.
"Oh, I'm very grateful. Trust me, you treat every day like it's your last and this morning was almost our last, and I'm very grateful to be alive today. And, I thank the Brigantine Fire Department and Police," said Brigantine resident Desiree Allen.
Desiree and her two kids were asleep in the first floor apartment located at 30 Lighthouse Drive in Brigantine when.....Continue Reading
the fire started. First, she got her daughter out.
"I went to the window, I pushed her out, because she was scared. So, I'm like get out, I pushed her out. My son, lifted him up, pushed him out the window, and I jumped out with no coat, it's like 9 degrees outside, I got my night shirt on up to here." Allen said.
"We arrived to find a structure that was fully involved on the outside of the structure, on the right hand side of the structure. Both doorways to the top and bottom apartments was blocked," said Brigantine Fire Department Captain Joseph Maguire.
Desiree and the children escaped through a dining room window on the first floor, but her second floor neighbors were unaware of the disturbance.
"Prior to our arrival, Officer William Ferris of the Brigantine Police Department arrived, realized that there were residents on the second floor that may not even be aware that there was a fire in progress. He was able to avoid the smoke and flames, and force entry into the second floors and notify them of the fire and safely get them out." Maguire said.
Quick work by the Brigantine Fire Department helped save the structure. But, Desiree says a new batter she recently replaced in her fire detector is really what kept this story from having a tragic ending.
"Because it started beeping, and I'm like, I need a battery, So two days ago I just put a new battery in. And, the Brigantine Fire Department, my goodness, I can't thank them enough. They were here in 45 seconds or less. I timed them, really just 45 seconds or less." Allen said.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, but officials say it appears to be accidental. All of the residents displaced are currently staying with friends and family in the area.
