2 NJ firefighters burned in fire

By Darran Simon
The Philadelphia Inquirer

MANTUA TWP., N.J. — Two volunteer firefighters and a resident were injured in a house fire Tuesday in Mantua Township, the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office said.

Mantua Township Fire Commissioner Jay Hauss said the injured firemen were his son, Chief Brian Hauss, and Lt. Michael Craft. The firefighters suffered burns and were taken to Cooper University Hospital in Camden, the elder Hauss said.

The younger Hauss later was taken to Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Upland to be treated for second-degree burns to his ears and first-degree burns to a leg, his father said.

He said Craft had burns to his ears and right hand. The prosecutor's office said the injuries to both firefighters were non-life-threatening.

The resident, Michele Ledrich, 40, who suffered serious burns when her trailer house on the first block of West Monroe Avenue caught fire sometime before 10 a.m., was also taken to Crozer-Chester.

She remained in critical condition Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.

Ledrich, who lived with her husband, was home alone at the time of the fire.

The younger Hauss, who is also a Mantua Township police officer, and Craft went into the home to rescue Ledrich, the elder Hauss said.

"They were trying to get her out through the window," said Jay Hauss, who was at Cooper as he spoke. "The room flashed over on both of them."

The elder Hauss said the two firefighters managed to flee through a window. A crew then cut through a wall to pull Ledrich out, he said.

The elder Hauss said the firefighters were "brave" and went beyond the call of duty. "That's what they train for."

The county prosecutor's office, county fire marshal, and the township police department are investigating the fire. Preliminary findings indicated that the blaze was not suspicious, authorities said.

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