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Heroism IN Action: Wayne Police Officer Rescues Woman From Burning Home

WAYNE, N.J. – A Wayne police officer pulled a woman through the window of her burning home, saving her life, authorities said.

The aftermath.

The aftermath.

Photo Credit: Contributed photo
At the scene.

At the scene.

Photo Credit: COURTESY: Wayne FD

Her frightened husband yelled to Officers Rick Vanderclock and Eric Caffrey that she was still inside the Beechwood Drive house when they arrived at 3:20 a.m. Monday to find the front of the house "fully engulfed in flames" after a seies of explosions, Detective Capt. Laurence Martin said.

Vanderclock ran to the back and heard the woman yelling from an open window, Martin said, adding that heavy smoke was pouring out.

The officer pulled the woman out and carried her to the front yard while his partner secured her husband, son and a house guest in a radio car, he said.

The Wayne Volunteer Memorial First Aid Squad treated the homeowner for burns to his hand and arm and took him and his wife to St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center.

A firefighter was taken to Chilton Hospital for treatment of an arm injury.

"Witnesses stated they heard the loud explosion which woke them up," the captain said. "After looking out, they observed a second explosion and the fire quickly engulfed the home's attached garage."

Wayne Volunteer Fire Companies #5-3-4 were dispatched and quickly arrived, set up and began attacking the fast-moving fire, Martin said.

Three vehicles were incinerated and the home was nearly destroyed, rendering it uninhabitable, he said.

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