At approximately 5:25pm on Monday, October 20, 2008 Hibernia Fire Department Co # 1 was dispatched for a report of heavy smoke coming from the area of Meridan Road in Rockaway NJ. Shortly thereafter, Rockaway Township Fire Co # 3 and Rockaway Borough Fire were also dispatched. NJ Forestry Fire Service had alerted the township of a plume of black smoke in the Meridan Rd area. Upon arrival, first responding units began treating a burn victim who was found outside of the house while several firefighters from Hibernia and Rockaway Borough quickly attempted a succesful rescue of an elderly female who was trapped in the rear bedroom of the home. Three brave firefighters (Sara Matthews, Dave Tsolakis and Mike Heath ) set up a ladder to the bedroom window. Mike Heath and a fourth firefighter, Dan Jenkins, stabilized the ladder while Sara Matthews and Dave Tsolakis climbed up and went inside to perform the heroic act of rescuing the elderly woman from a horrible fate. The woman was taken to a nearby landing zone at Christ Church on Green Pond Road. NJ State Police North Star Helicopter flew her to St. Barnabus Burn Center in Livingston for treatment. A request for mutual aid and tankers was made, pulling in apparatus from surrounding departments. Rockaway Borough provided FAST team. Denville's Engine 5, Greenpond's Tanker 1, Community Co# 1's Tanker 2, West Milford Co 2 Tanker and Boonton's Tanker arrived on scene. The fire was brought under control in under an hour. The Morris County Sherrif's Department is investigating the cause of the fire.

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