On May 4th, just before 1:30am, emergency personnel were dispatched to a working house fire located at 419 Joe Parker Road.
Upon arrival, officers observed several, later determined to be occupants of the home, cutting a hole in the steel garage door with a reciprocating saw in an effort to rescue a man who was trapped inside. Once the opening was large enough, Officers Julian Guzman and Michael Sheehan were able to gain entry by busting through a sheetrock of wall that had been constructed up against the garage door.
Once inside they located an unconscious 25 year old Lakewood man lying on the floor. According to the Officers he appeared to be suffering complications from breathing in the smoke and heat generated by the fire.
The male was then rushed to Jersey Shore University Medical Center for treatment while the Lakewood Fire Department continued firefighting efforts. At the time of this release, the victim’s condition is not known.
Further investigation by Det. Steven Nickens, as well as the Ocean County Prosecutors Office and the Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office, determined that the fire was started by an improperly discarded cigarette.