A New Jersey law enforcement officer was killed trying to rescue his young daughter from her burning home in the town of Hazlet, according to her husband.
Jacqueline Montanaro and her six-year-old daughter Madelyn died in the house fire Saturday morning, NJ.com reported. Her husband William Montanaro and her eight-year-old daughter Elena survived.
Fire alarms woke the family around midnight Saturday morning, and Mr. Montanaro scrambled to find his wife, two daughters and their dog to help them get to safety.
He, Jacqueline, and their 8-year-old son made their way through the house shrouded in smoke, making it hard to see, before finally making it out. But Madelyn was still in the house, so Mr. and Mrs. Montanaro ran back to retrieve their daughter.
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Jacqueline Montanaro (right) with her husband William Montanaro (left) and their two daughters.
(GoFundMe)
“As I ran back into the house for Madelyn, I was engulfed in an enormous amount of hot, thick, black smoke,” Montanaro said in a statement released by his brother.
“Without hesitation, Jackie lashed out with the love of a mother and the courage of a police officer to further her bid to save our daughter,” she continued.
Mr. Montanaro said his wife worked as a US Customs and Border Protection supervisor at Newark Liberty International Airport.
As smoke continued to fill the house, Mr. Montanaro managed to get out again. However, his wife and his youngest daughter did not make it out.
“I am heartbroken. I have lost the love of my life, my beautiful wife, Jackie, and my sweet, loving, brave little girl, Madelyn,” Montanaro said, adding, “Jackie was a hero.”
Mr. Montanaro said his wife worked as a US Customs and Border Protection supervisor at Newark Liberty International Airport.
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Ms. Montanaro and Madelyn were transported to the hospital for treatment in critical condition before they both died of their injuries.
It is unclear what started the fire, and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office told local media that the incident is under investigation.
Mr. Montanaro said in his statement that he is now focused on helping his surviving daughter receive the “support and help that she will need, so that we can rebuild our lives together.”
He also said that the family dog is still missing. Mr. Montanaro was hunting Sunday with an organization called Hound Hunters for the Goldendoodle.
“The search for our beloved dog continues, Duchess,” he said. “Thank you to our neighbors and to the dozens of people, the Hazlet Police Department and law enforcement in the surrounding communities who have been and continue to push to find her.”
It’s unclear what started the fire, and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office said the incident is under investigation.
(Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office)
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A GoFundMe page for the family started by the Customs United Service Alliance, Ms. Montanaro’s customs union, has raised more than $200,000 as of Monday morning.
“Words cannot express how tragic the loss of this amazing Manager, Colleague, Friend, Mom and Hero is to our community,” the fundraiser read. “Jackie’s ability to do any job on the job was surpassed only by her love and devotion to her family in her home.”
The Monmouth County Boy Scout Council that Mr. Montanaro works for is also collecting donations for its Alumni Disaster Fund to support the family’s needs.
