Woman Escapes Dix Hills House Fire By Jumping Into Arms Of Suffolk County Cop
DIX HILLS, N.Y. (1010 WINS) -- A Long Island woman, who woke up to a blaze inside her home Thursday, was able to escape to safety after jumping into the arms of a Suffolk County police officer.
Authorities said 37-year-old Anita Bareja, called 911, saying that her Dix Hills home was on fire and that she was stuck on her roof. Around 2:45 a.m., police and fire crews arrived at the scene, located at 143 Seaman Neck Road.
As firefighters battled the flames, police officer William O'Rourke was able to convince Bareja to jump from the roof to safety.
Assistant Dix Hills Fire Chief Tom Magno told 1010 WINS Bareja was unable to get down the stairs of her burning home and was able to make her way to the roof through her bedroom window.
"The Suffolk County police officer obviously broke her fall. He ended up hurting his shoulder in the process, but it was nothing major. She did suffer some smoke inhalation," Magno said.
Bareja and O'Rourke were taken to Huntington Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.
About 75 firefighters from Dix Hills and neighboring areas were needed to douse the flames at the two-story home. The fire was brought under control within 40 minutes.
