Day: May 7, 2022

Middlesex County, Perth Amboy

Two Firefighters Injured Battling 2-Alarm Fire in Perth Amboy

May 7, 2022

PERTH AMBOY (Middlesex County) – Two firefighters were injured battling a stubborn two-alarm blaze that destroyed one home and damaged another on Saturday (May 7).

The following details were released by the Perth Amboy Fire Department on their Facebook page:

On 5/07/22 at 1255 hours, the PAFD was dispatched to 189 William Street for a reported fire. Upon arrival, heavy smoke was found coming from all floors of the 2.5 story residential two-family dwelling and a second alarm was transmitted. Crews found heavy fire in the basement which had extended up to the attic via the balloon frame bays. Multiple hoselines were stretched to attack the fire while searches were completed and all occupants were accounted for. Due to the heavy fire conditions, all crews were withdrawn and operations went defensive. Truck 2’s platform operated on the fire building as the B Exposure was protected. Once the fire was knocked down, crews re-entered to overhaul and put out all remaining hot spots. There were no civilian injuries and there were two non-life threatening firefighter injuries. Both were taken to area hospitals for treatment. Six occupants were displaced by the fire, which is under investigation by the PAFD Fire Investigation Unit. The fire building was a total loss and there was minor damage to 187 William St. City units on scene were E-1, E-2, E-3, T-2, T-3, R-1, C-1, C-2, C-4, C-5, C-9 & C-11. Mutual aid units that assisted on scene were Hopelawn R-8, Sayreville E-3 and Woodbridge Truck 1-2-6. Keasbey Truck 4-2-4 and South Amboy E-9 covered the city during the incident.

Atlantic City, Barnegat Light, Little Egg Harbor, Long Beach Township, Ocean County

Coast Guard rescues 2 after sailboat grounds in breaking surf near Little Egg Inlet, New Jersey 

May 7, 2022

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — The Coast Guard rescued two people Friday night after their 33-foot sailing vessel, Free Bird, grounded and overturned near Little Egg Inlet.

A person aboard Free Bird used a VHF-FM marine radio Friday at about 8 p.m. to hail Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay watchstanders and report that they grounded in shoals and began heeling over while heading south toward Atlantic City. 

An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City, along with rescue boat crews from Coast Guard Stations Atlantic City and Barnegat Light, responded to the call for help. 

When Coast Guard responders arrived on the scene, they quickly located the Free Bird hard aground and on its side in breaking surf with both people aboard. Due to the shallow waters surrounding the vessel, the aircrew initiated hoisting the people. 

“With high winds, driving rain and thunderstorms in the area, our aircrew worked to quickly lower the rescue swimmer to help the couple,” said Lt. Humberto Hernandez, a pilot who flew on the rescue. “Our swimmer was able to walk in the shallow breaking surf to the Free Bird and assist the people away from the vessel to facilitate a safer hosting situation, away from the overturned vessel’s mast.” 

With each survivor safely hoisted into the aircraft, they returned to the air station and transferred to awaiting emergency medical personnel. Both people are reportedly in good condition and will coordinate salvage plans for their vessel.

The Coast Guard reminds all mariners that having reliable communication aboard your vessel can be the difference between life and death in an emergency. A VHF-FM marine radio is the best way to alert the Coast Guard to an emergency, especially on the water, where cell phone connectivity and weather are often unpredictable. 

An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City, New Jersey, stands with two survivors May 6, 2022, after the aircrew rescued the couple. The two people were aboard a 33-foot sailing vessel when it grounded and overturned in heavy weather offshore from Little Egg Inlet, New Jersey. (U.S. Coast Guard photo.)