Wheelchair-Bound Man, Wife Rescued From Condo Fire In Marlboro

MARLBORO, NJ - Two local police officers performed a rescue effort to help an elderly couple escape a structure fire that through the residential building at Millponds Condos in Marlboro on Saturday afternoon, authorities said.

On May 15 at approximately 4:03 p.m., the Marlboro Township Police Department received a report of a fire at a residential building on Yorkshire Place in the Millponds Condominium Development in Morganville, the department wrote in a news release. Visible flames could be seen from the roadway and there was a heavy smoke condition, with an eight-unit building engulfed in flames housed units as units arrived.

The blaze appeared to be focused on the rear of the building near units 375 and 377.

While evacuating residents, Ptlm. Charles Wilson found that the front door of unit 375 was wide open, with an elderly wheelchair-bound resident struggling to vacate his residence. He was assisted by his wife, but neither were able to maneuver the wheelchair out of the doorway.

With assistance from Ptlm. Pawel Wcislo, Ptlm. Wilson was able to evacuate the couple to safety as fire department personnel began to extinguish the fire.

Three condo units - 373, 375 and 377 - sustained fire damage, authorities said. The entire building was later deemed to be uninhabitable. No injuries were reported at the scene.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation led by the Monmouth County Fire Marshalls, Marlboro Township Fire Prevention Bureau and the Marlboro Township Police Detective Bureau. The origin of the blaze is not thought to be suspicious, authorities said. The Asbury Park Press reports that the fire spread through the attic of the building.

Responding to the scene were members of the Marlboro Township Police Department, Robertsville Volunteer Fire Company, Marlboro Fire Department, Morganville Fire Department, Marlboro First Aid and Rescue Squad, Morganville First Aid Squad, Marlboro Fire Prevention Bureau, Marlboro Township Office of Emergency Management, Gordons Corner Fire Company, Englishtown Fire Department, Freehold Fire Department, Tinton Falls Fire Company, NJ EMS Task Force, Keyport First Aid Squad, Keyport OEM and the Monmouth County Fire Marshalls Office.