Police officer saves baby from burning building

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NORTH BRUNSWICK – A township police officer caught a baby dropped from a second-floor balcony of a burning apartment building on Willowbrook Drive Tuesday morning.

The baby’s mother also jumped to Officer Nate Nicholson, a 12-year veteran of the Police Department. Both mother and child were transported to a hospital to be checked as a precaution.

The fire heavily damaged eight units in the building, leaving them uninhabitable.

At 8:13 a.m. Tuesday, members of the Police and Fire departments were notified about a fire at 114 Willowbrook Drive. When they arrived they found a number of housing units on fire in Building 19.

Police said Nicholson spotted a woman with a baby calling for help on the second floor balcony. The officer convinced the woman to drop the baby to him, and then the woman jumped safely to Nicholson. Both were transported to the hospital.

Police were told Gary Bowne noticed the fire, and began banging on windows to warn residents of the fire. When Nicholson arrived Bowne was standing nearby, and went toward the crying woman at the same time as Nicholson. Nicholson began talking with the woman and coaxed her to drop the baby. Once she did, Nicholson handed the baby to Bowne, so he could catch the woman. Bowne held the child until the mother was down and the two were reunited. Police said Bowne then left the area.

Police officers checked the building to make sure everyone was evacuated.

The fire was fought for several hours and confined to Building 19. Two firefighters were treated at the scene by the North Brunswick First Aid and Rescue Squad for minor injuries resulting from falling roof debris.

The New Brunswick, Milltown, Brookview in East Brunswick and Franklin Park fire departments provided mutual aid along with the Milltown First Aid Squad.

The American Red Cross is assisting eight families displaced by a fire. Three volunteer members of the Red Cross Disaster Action Team responded to provide comfort and emergency assistance to the families displaced by the fire.