Boro honors heroism in fighting Fountains blaze
Mayor lauds bravery of volunteers

Fire Chief Patrick Mason Jr. is congratulated by Mayor Jo-Ann Kalaka-Adams.

SEA BRIGHT - - "I feel we had one big department to put that fire out," borough Fire Chief Patrick Mason Jr. said last Thursday at a recognition ceremony held in honor of those who took part in fighting the fire at the Fountains condominium complex in February.

The "company" Mason referred to included volunteers from 13 other municipalities, Fort Monmouth, the American Red Cross and Monmouth County radio headquarters.

Mason was among seven members of the borough's fire and police departments who received "heroic awards" at a ceremony at the borough community center.

Others receiving the heroic award were Capt. Joseph Eskridge, Lt. Charles Murphy Jr. and ex-Fire Chief C. Read Murphy and Peter Lang IV, and Cpls. Kevin Lovgren and Brett Friedman of the police department.

In addition to the awards there was a proclamation by Mayor Jo-Ann Kalaka-Adams thanking those who helped fight the fire, which was presented to the borough's police department, fire department, first aid squad, Office of Emergency Management and Fire Ladies' Auxiliary.

The mayor said in the proclamation that the emergency services in the town and volunteers from many other municipalities fought the blaze "in below freezing temperatures, with winds gusting at 20 to 25 miles an hour."

In a speech welcoming those attending the ceremony she said, "The devastating and dangerous fire at the Fountains was certainly the worst single emergency that our town has experienced in our lifetimes, with the loss of a life and the displacement of every resident in the destroyed building.

"There was a heroic rescue of a severely injured resident that allowed her to be transported to a burn unit to give a chance for recovery. Despite the tragic end, we now truly know the great dedication and bravery that exists and is here for us should we ever need it," Kalaka-Adams also said.

Eskridge received both a heroic award from the town and the Firefighter of the Year Award from the Monmouth County Executive Committee of the American Legion for the rescue referred to by Kalaka-Adams.

The award said it was presented to Eskridge, "For his actions in rescuing Debra Yuhasz on Feb. 5, 2007, at an early-morning blaze in Sea Bright. Without regard to his own personal safety, Capt. Eskridge managed to get Ms. Yuhasz to safety, while experiencing burns himself."

Yuhasz subsequently died from injuries sustained in the fire.

Kalaka-Adams and Councilwoman Peggy Bills gave certificates of appreciation to representatives of the emergency services present from other municipalities that responded to the fire including: Monmouth Beach, Rumson, Highlands, Fair Haven, Red Bank, Middletown. Long Branch, West Long Branch, Oceanport, Keyport, Manalapan, Neptune Township and to Fort Monmouth, as well as the American Red Cross and the county radio headquarters.