Camden County Police Officers Rescue Mother And 2 Children From Burning Home
CAMDEN, NJ (CBS) – Officials say officers from the Camden County Police Department rescued a family from a burning home in Camden Wednesday afternoon.
Police say around 4:15 p.m., Officers Sean McMahon and Aaron Roselli were in the area of 9th Street and Atlantic Avenue when residents reported a building fire at 808 Atlantic Avenue.
Authorities say a mother and her two children, a four-year-old boy and seven-year-old girl, were trapped inside on the second floor.
Officers McMahon and Roselli, along with Officers Nicholas Marchiafava and Shane Franz, forced their way in by kicking open the front door.
Upon entry, police say they tried to locate the family, but the flames had grown too large, making it impossible to get to the second floor.
While attempting to navigate through the smoke, Officer Marchiafava collapsed and was helped out of the burning home by Officers Franz and McMahon.
With the fire continuing to spread, several officers, Frank Cardosa, Joseph Czyzewski, Antonio Genneta, Brandon Moreno, Thomas Rambone, Nicholas Sherman and Robert Schwartz, circled beneath the second floor window, locked arms and created a human net.
Police say the officers encouraged the family to jump, and they were able to safely catch both children and their mother.
The victims were then rushed to Cooper University Hospital.
Chief J. Scott Thomson says, "I'm extremely proud of the heroic actions taken by officers who responded to this fire. They risked their lives without hesitation to make sure that the children and their mother got out and because of their actions, this family is alive today."
The mother and her children were transported to Crozer-Chester Medical Center. They are currently in critical condition.
Officer Marchiafava was transported to Cooper University Hospital where he was admitted for severe smoke inhalation. He was released today.
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