NJ Firefighter Dies In Fire In His Own House

[DES630 10]

NJ Firefighter Dies In Fire In His Own House

Feb 9, 2006 1:25 pm US/Eastern

(1010 WINS) (Burlington Township, NJ) A volunteer firefighter perished in a blaze in his own home Thursday morning after leading two family members to safety, authorities said.

Thirty-one year old Edward Marbet, a 14-year veteran of the Burlington Township Fire Department, was found dead in the suburban home he shared with his fiancee and his father, said Tony Correia, director of the township's fire department.

Correia said the fire department received a call from a Marbet neighbor at about 5:40 a.m. alerting them to the blaze. Marbet was apparently able to lead his fiancee to safety through the front door, and his father, who had been in a basement area of the home, through a back door. Both of them escaped unharmed, Correia said.

Fire fighters found the front entrance to the home obstructed by debris, and found the lifeless body of Marbet inside.

An autopsy this afternoon is expected to determine the exact cause of Marbet's death, Correia said.

``Smoke can get you really quickly,'' Correia said. ``In the amount of time of it takes to take a few deep breaths, you can be unconscious.''

The cause of the blaze was under investigation.

Correia described Marbet as a hardworking family man who held several jobs at once, including in public safety communications and with a limousine service.

``Ed typified firefighters of this nation and the volunteer fire department by trying to help somebody before helping himself,'' Correia said.

[Guest]

Marbet, Edward 

Age: 31 

Cause of Death: Caught or Trapped 

Rank: Firefighter 

Nature of Death: Asphyxiation 

Classification: Volunteer 

Emergency Duty: No   

Incident Date: 02/09/2006 

Duty Type: On-Scene Fire 

Incident Time: 05:43 

Activity Type: Other 

Death Date: 02/09/2006 

Fixed Prop. Use: Residential 

Fire Dept. Info: Twp. Fire Dept. â013 Independent Fire Co. # 1

851 Old York Rd.

Burlington Twp. , New Jersey  08016

Chief: Director Anthony Correia / Chief William Diamond

 

Initial Summary:   

Firefighter Marbet was alerted to a working fire in his own residence. Despite heavy fire and smoke conditions, and without the protection of turnout gear, FF Marbet rescued his father and fiancée from inside the structure.

Emergency services were notified by a call to 911 from a neighboring residence.

All indications are that after the rescues were made, FF Marbet remained inside the structure in attempt to extinguish the fire.

Unfortunately, he succumbed to the heat and smoke conditions prior to the arrival of his colleagues from the Burlington Twp. Fire Dept., who found his body on the 2nd floor of the residence.   

USFA