6 Weeks After Forest Fire, Toms River Firefighter Goes Home

BRICK, NJ — Brian Sauers paused for a moment as he climbed into New Jersey Forest Fire Service truck No. 33, standing on the passenger-side step, waving to the crowd that gathered to cheer him.

Six weeks ago Sauers, 64, was on the scene at the Lakewood-Brick forest fire that charred 167 acres on March 14. He and Bill Roncskevitz were setting a backfire to halt the advance of the fire when Sauers collapsed, the result of a cardiac event, his daughter said.

On Friday Sauers, who is a district fire chief in Toms River Fire District 1 as well as a firefighter with the state forest fire service, was released from Shore Rehabilitation Center at Ocean Medical Center in Brick. He was greeted by dozens of firefighters and medical personnel from Toms River, Brick and surrounding areas, all saluting his release, then escorted home, where he will continue his rehabilitation. (See the video below.)

"It's been a long six weeks," his wife, Shirley, said as she watched a procession of firetrucks from all six Toms River fire companies escorting her husband out of the parking lot.

It was an emotional moment for Sauers' family and friends. As Roncskevitz pushed the wheelchair out of the doors to the driveway lined with wellwishers, Sauers was first greeted by his grandson, Brayden, who threw his arms around his grandfather's neck in a big hug.

But that wasn't the only emotional greeting among those in the crowd as Roncskevitz took Sauers to No. 33.

"You better believe you're leaving here in that truck," Roncskevitz said.

Halfway down the driveway he paused and pointed as he spoke to Sauers, then beckoned to Brick Township Patrolman Anthony Chadwick.

Chadwick was in his patrol car assisting at the scene of the wildfire when Roncskevitz pulled up in the fire service truck with Sauers, saying he needed help. Chadwick grabbed the automated external defibrillator from his patrol car and then did chest compressions until the Brick Township Emergency Medical Services personnel took over. He then escorted the EMS rig carrying Sauers to the hospital.

"I'm so glad to see you," Chadwick said as he greeted Sauers. "I'm so glad to be here," Sauers replied.

"The first two weeks were scary," said Kristin Rau, Sauers' daughter. He was transferred to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, and then once his condition improved, moved to Shore Rehabilitation Center. While the weather was chilly, knowing that her father was coming home was what mattered most, she said.

Shirley Sauers said one of the first things Brian asked about was the fire, and whether it had been stopped. "He wanted to know if they'd saved the homes," she said.

The joint efforts of Sauers and hundreds of firefighters from around Ocean County kept the March 14 blaze from destroying homes. The fire was intentionally set, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said Thursday. The investigation is continuing. Read more: Ocean County Forest Fire 'Intentionally Set,' Prosecutor Says

Two commercial buildings were ruined, and sheds, a boat and fences were consumed by the flames that charred 167 acres on the Brick-Lakewood border. But homes were intact, and no lives were lost. Including that of Sauers.

"I can't thank you enough," Shirley Sauers said to Chadwick later. "I was just doing my job," he said, but the emotion was palpable in the hugs he exchanged with Sauers' family.

"They were fighting the fire, protecting our homes," Chadwick said as the line of fire trucks departed. "This is a good day."

Read more: Brick Lake Park Residents Thank Firefighters For Saving Homes

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