Two in serious condition after jump from fire in Belmar high-rise

Two in serious condition after jump from fire in Belmar high-rise
by Maura McDermott/The Star-Ledger
Sunday July 06, 2008, 12:12 AM
Two residents of a Belmar high-rise building jumped from windows on the fourth- and fifth- floor to escape a late-night fire Saturday and are in serious condition at Jersey Shore Medical Center, Belmar Police Chief Jack Hill said.

Lori Barley, 43, jumped from the fourth floor and John Clark, 38, jumped from the fifth floor, Hill said.

The Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office, fire marshals and the Belmar detective squad are investigating the cause of the fire, Hill said.

Police Officer Todd Lee, Lt. Andrew Huisman and an unknown number of firefighters are being treated for smoke inhalation at the medical center, Hill said. He said the police officers' injuries do not appear to be life-threatening. He did not know the condition of the firefighters.

The 10:09 p.m. fire caused the evacuation of the entire nine-story, 81-apartment Marina View Towers building at Route 35 and 10th Avenue, Hill said. Residents were taken to the municipal gym, Office of Emergency Management and the Red Cross, where officials were helping them to find shelter, Hill said.

The blaze drew first-aid squads from surrounding Monmouth County towns, Police in Neptune City and Spring Lake said they had sent emergency medical workers to the scene.


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