Trenton NJ 02/09/09

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10:32 PM 02/09/2009 - U/D NJ| MERCER| TRENTON| *2ND ALARM*| 110 WASHINGTON STREET| AT LEAST 2 PATIENTS TRANSPORTED TO ST FRANCIS MEDICAL CENTER 1 IN CARDIAC ARREST. SOUTH BAT AND EMS OPS ARE STARTING TO RELEASE UNITS. REQ FIRE MARSHALL FOR INVESTIGATION. FIRE WAS K/D BUT NOW THE 2ND FL REIGNITED NJC014|PAS393|| (C) BNN | NJN609/NJC504/NJC575/NJC449

10:55 PM 02/09/2009 - U/D NJ| MERCER| TRENTON| *SUSPICIOUS FIRE*| 110 WASHINGTON STREET| COMMAND NOW REQUESTING AN ARSON INVESTIGATOR TO THE SCENE OF A HOUSE FIRE WITH ONE PATIENT REMOVED IN CARDIAC ARREST. FIRE UNITS ARE PICKING UP.|NJC014|| (C) BNN | NJN609/PAS393/NJC504/NJC4449

TRENTON — A city firefighter was said to be battling for his life late last night after coding twice at St. Francis Medical Center following efforts that rescued at least three people from a house fire at 110 Washington St.

“The director and chiefs were at the hospital while firemen at the firehouse awaited any news of the fallen firefighter,” said Capt. Mike Fitzpatrick. “It’s a bad time now. They haven’t told us anything so I can’t tell you anything.”

Asked to confirm the report of an injured fireman, TFD Director Richard Laird refused comment. He was seen hurrying away from the fire scene. Across the street there, neighbor Eddie Sanchez said two firefighters — Manny Rivera and Carlos Otero — had been rushed to the hospital.

Sanchez said, “When I came out of my house, I saw two firemen struggling with a ladder, on the side of the house. A man was hanging from a window, and I helped them nudge the ladder over to him. We told him to hang on, not to fall. The fireman helped bring him down the ladder. The smoke was hitting him in the face.”

Lorena Beteta and a child were among those rescued by firefighters who went inside as fire was discovered on the first floor rear of the duplex. Her child Joseph, 4, was seen being carried away by relatives Susana and Mario Beteta.

“There were five people; the firemen went in the house and carried them out,” said Ana Ramirez, 9. They brought them out on stretchers.”

Dinah Porter lives two houses away. “I was in my bedroom when I smelled the smoke,” she said. “I made sure it wasn’t a fire in my house, then I looked out. The whole side of that house was on fire. A guy in the back was yelling.”

Jose Rodriguez, Trenton Times truck driver, lives at 108 Washington. “I looked out, and flames were coming from the kitchen on the far corner of the house (at 110),” he said. “The second floor was empty. One lady was on a stretcher with her kid. I saw two of them walk out, about 12 or 13.”

A woman in the St. Francis ER said at 11:50 p.m. that the firefighter “is still here being evaluated.”

Hero's life in the balance after daring ladder rescue

From the Trentonian: http://www.trentonian.com