Woman rescued from fire is in critical condition
BY LIZ SHEEHAN
Correspondent

SEA BRIGHT - - A woman rescued from the second floor balcony of her condominium during a fire Monday morning is in critical condition, Robin Lally, a spokesperson for St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, said Tuesday.

Debra Yuhasz, 47, was brought by helicopter to the hospital, Sea Bright Mayor Jo-Ann Kalaka-Adams said Tuesday.

The fire that started around 5:30 a.m. in the Fountains condominium complex on Ocean Avenue was fought by several hundred emergency workers from 10 companies and was extinguished at about 2 p.m. Monday, Sea Bright Chief of Police William Moore said Tuesday.

The fire originated in building B of the complex at 1340 Ocean Ave., according to Moore, who said there are 32 units in building B as well as the 32 units in building A.

He said the residents who occupy the 64 units remained displaced as of Tuesday.

The cause of the fire, as well as where the fire broke out, are currently being investigated by the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office, the Monmouth County Fire Marshal's Office and the Sea Bright Police and Fire Marshal Departments, according to Moore.

In addition to the single injured resident, two policemen also sustained minor injuries as a result of the fire, he said.

According to Kalaka-Adams the second building along Ocean Avenue was spared from the fire by the excellent work of the firefighters.

Kalaka-Adams said when the fire began it was first thought that it was contained but then the wind spread the flames.

She said that 13 to 14 units in the building were destroyed "to the floor boards."

The fire department was concerned that the blaze would spread to the second building," Kalaka-Adams said. If it were not for the efforts of the fire departments, she added, the blaze would have spread.

"The flames were unbelievable," she said.

Kalaka-Adams said the residents of the buildings were brought to the Borough Hall and the American Red Cross gave them vouchers to stay at a local hotel.

She said that businesses in the town, including Donovan's, McLoone's, Dunkin' Donuts and Andy K's, sent food to the fire victims and the emergency workers. And animal cages were brought to Borough Hall for the residents' pets, she added.

"They were really in shock; their pajamas were all they had left, she said, referring to the residents who had to flee the fire. "They had nothing to go back to."

Ocean Avenue was closed from the time the fire started until around 4:30 p.m. because of the fire, she said. Kalaka-Adams said that on Tuesday, authorities still didn't know what caused the fire, which is under investigation.

She thanked all who responded to the blaze, praising the emergency workers in her town and others who came to the borough's aid.

In Monmouth Beach, south of the fire, residents received phone calls Monday through the town's emergency phone system, alerting them that Ocean Avenue was closed to traffic because of the fire. According to Kalaka-Adams, the bridge from Sea Bright to Rumson also was closed.

Greater Media Staff Writer Christine Varno contributed to this story.