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Fire at complex evacuates seniors

Blaze hits apartment in Highlands

Published in the Asbury Park Press 04/12/05

By ANDREA ALEXANDER
KEYPORT BUREAU

HIGHLANDS — The five-story Ptak Towers, a Shore Drive senior complex with 95 residents, was evacuated Monday night after a fire ripped through an apartment, sending smoke through the hallways.

The cause of the fire, which began about 8:40 p.m., is under investigation, fire officials said.

The blaze began in the bedroom of a second-floor apartment at the complex, at 215 Shore Drive, and was contained to that unit. The apartment's resident was inside when firefighters arrived. Her identify was not available Monday night, but fire officials said she was taken to Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank to be treated for smoke inhalation.

"I was scared. I went down the hall to check on some of the other ladies, and smoke got caught in my throat," said Judy Waters, 64, who was about to go to bed when the fire alarm went off, and she started to evacuate. Waters said she would stay with family Monday night.

The complex took 10 minutes to evacuate, and the fire was quickly put under control, officials said.

Residents who used walkers or had other disabilities were carried from the building by firefighters. Seniors were loaded into ambulances and taken to a nearby community center to stay warm.

Residents, most wrapped in blankets, lined the street near the building, as rescue workers encouraged them to go to the community center.

Fire Chief Ed Edelbach said some residents would be allowed to return to apartments Monday night on the opposite side of the building from where the fire was.

The American Red Cross was at the community center, working to help find residents temporary shelter, Edelbach said. Other residents would stay with their families, he said.

Some residents didn't have time to put on shoes and socks before fleeing their apartments, and many were standing outside without jackets.

George Andrews, 76, said he heard the fire alarm and walked outside his apartment.

"The firemen told me I had to go downstairs," Andrews said. "I went outside with my walker, and then the firemen carried me downstairs.

"I was so cold, and people were so generous," Andrews said, while he stood outside wrapped in a blanket.

Nettie DuBois, 68, said she didn't want to leave her first-floor apartment, but she handed her cat out the window to a friend to put in her car.

Soon after, firefighters knocked on her door and told her to leave.

"I've never seen the unity and the love for each other," said DuBois of the Fire Department's efforts to help the residents. "It is amazing in this day that people care like that."

Fire companies from Highlands, Sea Bright, Atlantic Highlands and Monmouth Beach were providing assistance.

Webmaster's Note: EMS units from Highlands, Atlantic Highlands, Sea Bright, and Rumson each responded with 2 ambulances.

Woman critically injured in crash

A badly damaged vehicle that required extrication to remove patient on the Highlands bridge.

Published in the Asbury Park Press 04/1/05

HIGHLANDS: A Keansburg woman remains in critical condition after her car and another car collided with a truck on the Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge.

A female driver, was taken by a New Jersey State Police helicopter to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune following the Wednesday afternoon accident, Patrolman Matthew J. Chesek said.

Another female driver, of Middletown was treated and released from Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank. A male driver, of Long Branch was treated and released from Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, Chesek said.

Shortly after 3:20 p.m. Wednesday, police were called to the bridge, where they found the male dirver's truck had crashed against a concrete railing on the southbound side of the four-lane span, Chesek said.

The truck, which was traveling north on the bridge, collided with the two other vehicles traveling south before it struck the railing, Chesek said.

The truck is owned by a welding supply company out of Ocean Township, Chesek said.

Highlands fire department and first-aid workers also responded to the scene, along with the Leonardo Rescue Squad, the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office Serious Collision Accident Reconstruction Team and hazardous materials cleanup workers, as a precautionary measure, Chesek said. Department of Transportation officials were also at the scene, he said.

Police are still investigating the cause of the accident, Chesek said.

Anyone with information can call Highlands police at (732) 872-1158.

Rodney Point-Du-Jour

Webmaster's Note: The names of all parties in this article were not used to protect patient privacy.

New Ambulance for Highlands First Aid Squad - March 12, 2005

Highlands First Aid Squad is eagerly awaiting their newest ambulance currently being built by Road Rescue with an expected delivery date of November, 2005. The new unit, a 2005 Ford F-350, is being built with the biggest patient compartment and newest innovations to help in patient care. With the squad’s 75^th Anniversary approaching quickly in 2006 the new unit will allow the squad to provide service to the Borough of Highlands residents with the latest and greatest tools in EMS. The squad’s two ambulances that currently serve the community are a 1988 Chevy and a 1997 GMC.

Skip Shute, Jr. HFAS Member

3 hurt, 1 charged in Highlands crash

February 4, 2005 (Printed in the Asbury Park Press, February 7, 2005)

HIGHLANDS: A borough woman was injured in a car accident that happened as she and two others were leaving a birthday party at a local bar and getting into their car early Saturday morning. Capt. Henry Clagett said the three victims - two from Highlands, and one from Hazlet - had left the Claddagh bar on Bay Avenue just after midnight. They were loading balloons and gifts into their car when it was struck by a vehicle driven by a Eatontown driver. the driver was traveling along Bay Avenue and hit the victim's car on the driver's side. One victim was in fair condition at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, a nursing supervisor said Saturday. The other two victims were taken to Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank, where they were treated and released. Clagett said the driver did not appear to be intoxicated and he passed blood and urine tests to determine his blood alcohol level. Police said they were awaiting further toxicology results. the driver was charged with reckless driving.

Nina Rizzo, Staff Writer, APP

Webmaster's Note: The injured victims in the above story were treated and transported by the Highlands First Aid Squad. The names of all parties in this article were not used to protect patient privacy.