Search On For Good Samaritans Who Saved Elderly Man From Burning Home Near Rutgers-Camden Dorm
CAMDEN, N.J. (CBS) -- The search is on for two mystery heroes who saved an elderly man from his burning home near the Rutgers-Camden dorm.
The good Samaritans may be Rutgers-Camden students and now the university is asking for them to come forward.
"The ladder company noticed what we think were students from Rutgers bringing the elderly gentleman out of the building," said Camden City Fire Department Chief Michael Harper.
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Officials say the good Samaritans didn't stick around.
Dispatch received the fire call at 12:13 a.m. and the first firefighters arrived within four minutes, but it was already too late for a second person in the home.
"Using one of our thermo-imaging cameras, the officer with Ladder 1 noticed that we did have a fatality in the room," said Harper.
John Parker, the 62-year-old victim, was found dead in a bedroom on the third floor.
"It's an unfortunate situation for us, for me as the mayor of this great city of Camden," said Mayor Frank Moran. "We had a fire here at 206 Cooper St. and a life that perished."
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The 90-year-old man who escaped is the victim's father. He was taken to Cooper Hospital to be checked out.
Rutgers officials put out a message to campus on Friday trying to find out who ran into the burning building, likely saving a neighbor's life.
"They are completely engaged in our community, we have a huge civic engagement effort," said Mary Beth Daisey, vice chancellor of student affairs at the university. "They feel a part of the community and so they feel responsibility to the community as well."
Officials believe the fire was most likely accidental and not arson, but an official cause is still pending the conclusion of the investigation.
