Members of the Newark Volunteer Fire Department were busy on Thursday with an accident and fire at the same time. To make matters worse — when the call came in about a fire at 309 East Union Street — it included the report that someone was trapped on the roof.
The structure fire was a multi-unit apartment complex. Within minutes the Newark Fire Department was on-scene with heavy smoke showing from the second floor.
Under the command of Newark Fire Chief Rusty Havert, firefighters entered the structure to locate and extinguish the fire, search for others in the building and at the same time assisted a resident down from a one story roof using a ladder.
Assisting with the rescue were Newark firefighters Captain Doug Velte, Captain Rodney Bliss and Newark Police Officer Dan Weager.
Newark Police Chief David Christler commented on the fast response and how fortunate residents are of the fire protection in the Village. The Lyons Fire Dept. was called for their RIT Team upon Newark’s arrival, according to the Wayne County Times.
The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office and Newark EMS were on-scene.
