Another Cop Grab

[GeorgeWendtCFI]

2 NJSP and a civilian make a couple of great grabs.

Fire wrecks Andover Inn
Residents upset historic building may be lost

BY ROB JENNINGS
DAILY RECORD

ANDOVER -- Up to 11 people escaped a fire that heavily damaged a 150-year-old inn early Tuesday morning, police said -- including three or four tenants who jumped from a first-story roof and were caught by a state trooper.

There were no serious injuries in the quick-moving blaze at the historic Andover Inn on Route 206, where two floors of apartment residences were atop a restaurant -- the Iron Mine Grill and Tavern -- that opened in November.

The blaze was called in at 12:25 a.m. Tuesday and it took 70 firefighters until 3 a.m. to put it out, Fire Chief Dennis Walker said. A cause of the fire had not been determined Tuesday, state police spokeswoman Jeanne Hengemuhle said.

Credit for evacuating the tenants was given to two on-duty state troopers Christopher Mills and Brian Kearns. They happened to be nearby, responding to a domestic argument, when they heard alarms and raced to the scene.

"We saw the front door open and somebody came out. That was my first indication that it might not be the last person," Kearns, 27, recalled on Tuesday.

Mills and Kearns said they dashed inside the burning building, went upstairs to the second floor and guided several tenants that were reluctant to leave to the exit. Next, they pulled a disabled man from a fire escape above the first floor.

Mills -- who stands 6-feet, 2-inches tall and weighs 180 pounds -- said that he caught three or four people he convinced to jump from the restaurant's roof, maybe 10 feet above the ground.

"The first was nearly 200 pounds. He nearly broke my nose," said Mills, 24, who was treated for mild smoke inhalation at Newton Memorial Hospital.

Walker said that firefighters arrived just as the troopers were aiding the last of the escaping tenants.

"They did one heck of a job," Walker said of the troopers.

Local residents were saddened by the possible loss of Andover's signature structure, a centerpiece in the borough's small business district on the highway. The Andover Inn opened as a hotel in 1856 and recently underwent extensive renovations.

"When you see the Andover Inn, you think of Andover Borough," said Mayor Shirlee M. Bollard, who attended a ribbon-cutting for the Iron Mine Grill and Tavern last fall.

'Heavy damage'

Walker said the building sustained "some heavy damage" in the fire and wasn't sure whether it might be salvaged.

Bollard said the restaurant and building are owned by Jeff and Jennifer Luisi and Joe and Nancy Henriquez. Both couples could not be reached Tuesday.

Deana Patton, president of the Andover Borough Historical Society, said she was "sickened" by the extent of the damage.

"They poured water into that thing for over four hours ... imagine a three-story building with water going down through the floors," she said.

Opened in 1856 by William Iliff, the Andover Inn was transformed into a so-called temperance hotel, defined by an absence of alcohol, sometime in the late 19th Century, Patton said.

Patton said that during the heyday of Andover's 800-seat Grist Mill Playhouse, which closed in 1971, the Andover Inn was visited by luminaries such as actors Harry Morgan of "MASH" fame and Carol Channing.

[GeorgeWendtCFI]

Another, better article.
Troopers, shop owner save residents
Fire leaves Andover Borough landmark gutted
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
BY JIM LOCKWOOD
Star-Ledger Staff
The Andover Inn, a 150-year-old mainstay of Route 206 in Andover Borough, was destroyed early yesterday in a fast-moving fire that threatened the lives of 11 upstairs tenants and prompted a daring rescue, authorities said.

In a few frenzied minutes after the fire started, State Police troopers Christopher Mills, 24, and Brian Kearns, 27, and antique-shop owner James Farrell rescued two men trapped by flames on a fire escape.

Once those residents were brought safely off the side of the building, the three men heard screams and raced around to the back of the building, where they caught in their arms three other residents who jumped off a one-story flat roof at the rear of the burning structure.

Farrell praised the troopers for the heroic efforts, and the troopers praised the antiques dealer, who lives in Boonton.

"Trooper Mills and I both knew what our job entailed when we signed on" as police officers, Kearns said. "That James fellow, he didn't sign on for anything. He was right there with us, he had no obligation to anyone. He did a good job, a real good job. "

No one was seriously hurt, though some residents were treated at the scene for minor smoke inhalation, police said. Mills and Farrell also were treated at Newton Memorial Hospital for smoke inhalation and released.

The troopers happened to be in Andover Borough at the time of the fire, 12:25 a.m., investigating an unrelated argument at a Main Street (Route 206) residence, when they heard a fire alarm and screams coming from the Andover Inn across the street.

The officers saw flames and smoke coming from the inn and immediately ran into the burning building to try to rescue tenants in second- and third-floor rooms.

Farrell, 42, who opened the Rusted Rooster antique store across from the Andover Inn only three weeks ago, happened to be working late at his shop when he heard the fire alarm and saw a rear window of the inn shatter and smoke pour out. He ran over to help.

Kearns and Mills went in through the front door and ran upstairs to the smoky, fiery second floor and found four tenants who had not yet fled because they were worried about leaving possessions behind.

"We had to forcibly get them to leave," Mills said. "We asked if there was anyone else in the building, and you could hear people screaming from the fire escape."

But flames prevented the troopers from reaching the fire escape from inside. So, they ran back downstairs and around the building, where two men were trapped on a fire escape between the second and third floors.

The bottom of the fire escape was a vertical ladder some 15 feet long. Flames shooting out of a nearby window and panic of the moment trapped one man, who had a wooden leg. The other man was higher up on the narrow catwalk and could not get around the first man.

"The fire was pushing him (the first man) higher and higher" up the fire escape," Farrell said. "It was starting to get serious because fire was coming out of the other (top) doors. They were stuck between two fireballs."

"It was kind of like a 'point of no return,'" Kearns said.

Mills climbed up the ladder and rushed past the flames toward the men. However, the man lower down on the ladder, who had no shirt and was getting singed from the heat, "was panic-stricken" and fought and struggled with Mills.

"I told him you have to trust me, I'll get you through this," Mills recalled. "I was yelling at him, you just have to trust me."

Mills, who stands 6 feet 2 inches and weighs some 170 pounds, grabbed hold of the man with one arm and started carrying him down the ladder, and in a sort of an impromptu "assembly line," Farrell climbed up part way to help carry and lower the man to Kearns, who was at the bottom.

All safely on the ground, the officers and Farrell then heard screams at the rear of the building, where two men and a woman were trapped atop a one-story-high flat roof. They told the tenants to jump, and caught them in their arms, one-by-one, to break the falls.

"By the time we got around to the other side, the building was engulfed. I was stunned by how fast the fire moved," Farrell said.

Sussex County Assistant Fire Marshal Joe Inga said the fire spread quickly due to the three-story wooden building's antiquated "balloon-frame" construction, which does not have firestops between the floors. This type of construction is no longer allowed under modern building codes, Inga said.

Farrell said of the troopers' actions: "I'm impressed ... I'm just glad they were around. I was kind of honored to get to know these guys for four minutes."

State Police spokeswoman Jeanne Hengemuhle said, "These troopers are heroes. They did the job that they knew they had to do."

Kearns said, "All in a day's work. It's nothing that any other trooper wouldn't have done. I don't see it as anything out of the ordinary."

Instead, Kearns credited both Farrell and a tenant who "first heard the alarm, woke everybody up and got them started moving toward the fire exits."

The 11 evacuated residents were being temporarily housed last night by the American Red Cross in a nearby motel.

The inn, established in 1856, has changed hands many times over the years. It was recently renovated by new owner, Jeff Luisi of Landing, who bought the inn two years ago in a foreclosure.

Luisi spent much of the past two years fixing the inn and renovating a restaurant on the first floor. That eatery, the Iron Mine Grill & Tavern, which opened on Nov. 19, was a tribute to the town's mining history and was adorned with historical photos.

Luisi said he heard the fire was ignited by a second-floor tenant who either fell asleep with a cigarette or was playing with a lighter. Hengemuhle said she didn't know the cause of the fire, but it appears to have been accidental.

Luisi said authorities told him the building was damaged beyond repair and will have to be razed. The roof is gone and the third floor collapsed onto the second floor, which also was giving way.

"I've been working on this for two years now, around the clock," a distraught Luisi said. "I've had my life into it. Now it's gone."

[nmfire]

I bet they didn't have SCBA or proper NIMS training. They had no buisness doing that.!

[pfd4life]

In my eyes who cares, they were on the outside doing what they could to help. Now if they go inside........different scenario.

[voyager9]

Kearns and Mills went in through the front door and ran upstairs to the smoky, fiery second floor and found four tenants who had not yet fled because they were worried about leaving possessions behind.

Looks like they did go inside. I can't criticize though. I probably would have done the same thing if I were in their situtation.

They should have laid in from the hydrant though... :)

[CaptainGonzo]

A "tip of the leather" to Troopers Kearns and Mills.. nice work!

[nmfire]

In my eyes who cares, they were on the outside doing what they could to help. Now if they go inside........different scenario.

BS. They should have been up the road blocking traffic instead of taking away from the fire department's job. In fact, I think the fire department's Union has a case for a law suit here. You can't give away union work to someone not in the union. Those cops took work away from the firefighers! SCABS!!!! If it is a volunteer department, obviously it should be a career department and by god, those trucks had better not be yellow!!!!!

:eek:

[Cirrus]

To bad its an all volly area ;) . I should know I was there as the mutual aid FAST team. The Borough of Andover has only about 600 Residents and a small VFD so paid seems out of the question ;) . Of course I know you are messing around and I am just messen' back with you. Was a good fire though. Wish, though, they would have given my guys a shot at it when we arrived. They had just went exterior defensive as we got on scene. My personal opinion if we had 2-3 good lines with aggressive crews and 5-10 minutes we had a good chance to get it. But then this may just be some Monday morning quarterbacking on my part. Most important thing is no one was hurt!!! So in that regards it was sucessful.


BS. They should have been up the road blocking traffic instead of taking away from the fire department's job. In fact, I think the fire department's Union has a case for a law suit here. You can't give away union work to someone not in the union. Those cops took work away from the firefighers! SCABS!!!! If it is a volunteer department, obviously it should be a career department and by god, those trucks had better not be yellow!!!!!

:eek:

[GeorgeWendtCFI]

BS. They should have been up the road blocking traffic instead of taking away from the fire department's job. In fact, I think the fire department's Union has a case for a law suit here. You can't give away union work to someone not in the union. Those cops took work away from the firefighers! SCABS!!!! If it is a volunteer department, obviously it should be a career department and by god, those trucks had better not be yellow!!!!!

:eek:

Yeah. And I think they had GUNS with them when they went in.

[CaptainGonzo]

Yeah. And I think they had GUNS with them when they went in.

and you forgot to add with bullets, too! :p

[GeorgeWendtCFI]

and you forgot to add with bullets, too! :p
More than one even!

[hwoods]

BS. They should have been up the road blocking traffic instead of taking away from the fire department's job. In fact, I think the fire department's Union has a case for a law suit here. You can't give away union work to someone not in the union. Those cops took work away from the firefighers! SCABS!!!! If it is a volunteer department, obviously it should be a career department and by god, those trucks had better not be yellow!!!!!

:eek:

That is quite enough, young man! No Recess for you. :D :D :D :D :D

[wag11c]

Nice try at stirring the pot george: I ain't buying in.

[MalahatTwo7]

and you forgot to add with bullets, too!

More than one even!

Which means they were NOT funded or mandated by the United Nations! :D

However I do have reservations about folks (no matter who they are) going into burning environments without appropriate PPE, but I know that I'll get the "Risk A Lot To Save A Lot" lecture. :) But Good Save Guys. Just glad all is well and no serious/critical injuries.

[CaptainGonzo]

Nice try at stirring the pot george: I ain't buying in.
George isn't "stirring the pot".. as a matter of fact, NM's posts aren't either...

What you are witnessing is sarcasm at it's best!

[pvfire424]

Mills -- who stands 6-feet, 2-inches tall and weighs 180 pounds -- said that he caught three or four people he convinced to jump from the restaurant's roof, maybe 10 feet above the ground.

"The first was nearly 200 pounds. He nearly broke my nose," said Mills, 24, who was treated for mild smoke inhalation at Newton Memorial Hospital.






That is the part I find incredible ! These guys went above & beyond. They didnt HAVE to but they did.

I would also like to tip the leather to them, but I must suffice with my 1010 ( i'll have a leather someday!)

[CaptainGonzo]

That is the part I find incredible ! These guys went above & beyond. They didnt HAVE to but they did.

I would also like to tip the leather to them, but I must suffice with my 1010 ( i'll have a leather someday!)

That would a "tip of the PLEATHER!" :p :D

[Bones42]

and you forgot to add with bullets, too! :p We give our cops a choice, a gun or bullets. Can't trust them with both. :p

[FFTrainer]

We give our cops a choice, a gun or bullets. Can't trust them with both. :p
Is that why all the donuts have holes in them?? :D

[GeorgeWendtCFI]

Is that why all the donuts have holes in them?? :D

Easy bro. You have to drive in Morris County. :eek:

[GeorgeWendtCFI]

Nice try at stirring the pot george: I ain't buying in.

Wow! You sure are a smart one! You caught me! :rolleyes:

[GeorgeWendtCFI]

Which means they were NOT funded or mandated by the United Nations! :D

However I do have reservations about folks (no matter who they are) going into burning environments without appropriate PPE, but I know that I'll get the "Risk A Lot To Save A Lot" lecture. :) But Good Save Guys. Just glad all is well and no serious/critical injuries.

The first alarm for this fire came in as an AFA. These troops were across the street on a domestic and actually reported the working fire. Even the best Vol. FD is at least 10 minutes from the scene after the alarm is reported (when you take into consideration telephone time, reaction time, dispatch time, travel time, response time and set up time).

When you look at it that way, there is no question that these guys saved lives.

BTW, I am equally impressed by the civilian.

[FFTrainer]

Easy bro. You have to drive in Morris County. :eek:
Sitting on 80 in traffic does not constitute driving!

[fflynn17]

I guess we shouldn't ask George for a PBA card, eh? ;)

[KnightnPBIArmor]

To bad its an all volly area ;) . I should know I was there as the mutual aid FAST team. The Borough of Andover has only about 600 Residents and a small VFD so paid seems out of the question ;) .

Wow, sounds like the officers did a really nice job...I will also give a tip o' the helmet to 'em. Cirrus, which department are you with? My wife is from Sussex County, and as a matter of fact we were married in Lafayette's Fire Hall 2 years ago this month.

[GeorgeWendtCFI]

I guess we shouldn't ask George for a PBA card, eh? ;)
Unless your last name happens to be Wendt, you ain't getting one. :cool:

[Smoke20286]

BS. They should have been up the road blocking traffic instead of taking away from the fire department's job. In fact, I think the fire department's Union has a case for a law suit here. You can't give away union work to someone not in the union. Those cops took work away from the firefighers! SCABS!!!! If it is a volunteer department, obviously it should be a career department and by god, those trucks had better not be yellow!!!!!

:eek:

Damn brother, thats a hard attitude you have there. So if your neighbours house caught fire you would not attempt to help?

[pfd4life]

Damn brother, thats a hard attitude you have there. So if your neighbours house caught fire you would not attempt to help?


I seriously hope you understand he's kidding....

[MIKEYLIKESIT]

Police rescue residents from burning building
January 27, 2006 - Seven Chicago police officers heroically ran into a burning CHA apartment building on the South Side Thursday night.

The officers rescued a man in his smoke filled apartment on the fourth-floor of the Ida B. Wells public housing project near 38th and King Drive. They also helped and another man and his granddaughter on the third floor.
The tactical officers were in the area looking for drug dealers when they spotted smoke pouring out of the building.

"The smoke was starting to develop. And you can barely see in the apartment. It was really hot in there. But luckily we got him out before it really got worse," said Robert Gonzalez, Chicago Police Department.

Fire officials believe the blaze began by a man smoking in bed. That man is now being treated for smoke inhalation.

[Smoke20286]

I seriously hope you understand he's kidding....


How would I know that? I don't know if you've noticed but people make outrageous statements like that on this forum all the time, and are quite serious too.

[pfd4life]

How would I know that? I don't know if you've noticed but people make outrageous statements like that on this forum all the time, and are quite serious too.

That all kind of stopped when Captain Rubber left. You would probably be able to figure it out by a few key statements he made... :rolleyes:

[coldfront]

Milkman rescues blaze residents


A milkman has been hailed a hero after he saved five people from being trapped in a fire - then continued his round.

Adrian Halley is to be recommended for a bravery award by fire crews who attended the blaze in Sackville Gardens, Hove.

Mr Halley was delivering milk when he spotted flames at the window of a house used as sheltered accommodation for vulnerable people.

He ran to the house to raise the alarm at 5am on Saturday.

A woman who came to the door told him she had called the fire brigade and he told her to get out of the building.

Mr Halley, 39, dashed inside and made sure the other residents were safely on their way out before tackling the blaze himself.

He found a fire extinguisher on the first floor and went into the room where the blaze had taken hold of the curtains. Mr Halley, who has worked for the Saltdean-based Coombe Farm Dairies for six years, had put the flames out by the time the fire brigade arrived.

Once he was sure everyone was safe, he gave his details to officers before leaving to complete his round.

Mr Halley, who lives in Sutton Avenue North, Peacehaven, with wife Alison, 39, and four daughters, said: "It sounds more dramatic than it was but I didn't really think about it at the time. I saw the flames and just did what anyone would do. A couple of the residents were already on their way downstairs and I told them to get out and then looked for an extinguisher."

Fire crews from Hove arrived to find the house filled with smoke but the flames out and all the occupants safely accounted for.

Sub-officer Andrew Goulsden said: "We will be putting Mr Halley forward for a commendation for his actions. The alarm in the building had gone off but the five occupants of the flats were somewhat confused and slow to react."

CORRECTIOAL OFFICER

Correctional Officer and inmates rescue truck driver from fiery collision
Corrections Today, June, 2004


Returning from a work detail late in the afternoon last November with five inmates assigned to the Department of Transportation work squad, Correctional Officer Jeffrey Hunnicut of the Marion Correctional Institution in Florida, came upon a fiery wreck in the middle of Ocala National Forest.

The head-on collision of an 18-wheel tractor-trailer and a Lincoln Continental was blocking the two-lane state road. Unable to get a cell phone signal in such a remote location or call for help using his work radio, Hunnicut, 33, knew he had to act immediately if the accident victims were to be saved.

MY THROUGHTS
I see cops just like correctioal officers,milkmen or any other blue collar workers out there, just as hard working guys who step up when needed to save a life.Training and PPE shovel it out the window. Hell, a blind squirrel can find a nut every once in a while.Give credit were credit is due.A rescue is a rescue.The rules can be broken by everyone but firefighters. ;)