LAMBERTVILLE CITY, NJ ( Hunterdon County) – A resident who was sent to the hospital following an apartment fire early Thursday morning in Hunterdon County has died as result of injuries he sustained in the fire, according to Lambertville City Mayor Andrew J. Nowick.
Mayor Nowick identified him as David Sloane, a Naval veteran and an avid reader, who had lived in his apartment since 2010 and assisted for years in the administration and maintenance of the apartment complex.
“The City joins his family and friends in mourning his tragic death and we extend our heartfelt condolences,” Nowick said.
The fire was reported on Jan. 12 at 1:34 a.m. at the South Hunterdon Apartments, located at 181 N. Main Street, in Lambertville City, authorities said.
Lambertville Police Sergeant Anthony Memolo, Lambertville Police Officer Kevin Bereheiko, Volunteer Lambertville Fireman and Hunterdon County Deputy OEM Coordinator Andrew Camp, and Volunteer Lambertville Firemen Donald and Gavin Hart were the first to arrive on the scene, Nowick said.
Outfitted in protective gear, Mr. Camp pulled Sloan, who was unconscious, from the fire and together the firemen removed him to a safe location. Sloan was then airlifted to Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia, Nowick said.
Mr. Camp, Sergeant Memolo and Office Bereheiko largely extinguished the blaze, Nowick said.
Officer Bereheiko was treated for minor injuries at Hunterdon Medical Center and released. Sergeant Memolo was transferred to Lehigh Valley Hospital Cedar Crest and is expected to return home Friday. The three firemen suffered no injuries, Nowick said.
Six apartments of the seventeen unit complex were evacuated. A temporary shelter was established at Lambertville Public School and residents were subsequently placed in the care of local family and friends, authorities said.
The cause of the fire in under the joint investigation of the Lambertville Fire Department, the Lambertville Police Department, the Lambertville Fire Official, the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s office, and the State Fire Marshall, authorities said.
“The City gratefully acknowledges the bravery and heroism of Sergeant Memolo, Officer Bereheiko, Mr. Donald Hart, Mr. Gavin Hart and Mr. Camp, and expresses further gratitude to all the first responders who raced to the scene. Through preparedness and a driven dedication to service and public safety, these emergency responders are ever ready to answer the call. On behalf of the City of Lambertville, I thank them for their commitment, courageousness, and quick action,” Nowick said.
Lambertville Fire Department, West Amwell Fire, New Hope, Stockton, Sergeantsville, Amwell Valley, Midway, Quakertown, multiple units from Mercer County, Lambertville police, Raritan Township police, Flemington police, West Amwell police, Delaware Township police, Lambertville OEM, Lambertville C.E.R.T, Lambertville-New Hope Rescue Squad, Flemington Rescue Squad, Quakertown Rescue Squad, and an ALS Unit of Hunterdon Medical Center assisted at the scene.
