Tragedy struck Hazlet, New Jersey when a brave and dedicated mother, Jackie Montanaro, lost her life trying to save her six-year-old daughter from a devastating house fire.
She put in a lot of effort as a Customs and Border Protection supervisor. She had children. Jackie Montanaro, who died Friday trying to save one of her daughters from a house fire, was a hero.
Just after midnight, a fire broke out in Hazlet, New Jersey. William Montanaro claimed that he and his wife managed to escape the fire. According to WABC-TV, their eight-year-old daughter Elena did as well. Jackie Montanaro reportedly rushed to save Madelyn, a 6-year-old girl, according to CBS.
With profound sadness, we mourn the tragic loss of US Customs & Border Protection Supervisory Officer Jacqueline Montanaro and her young daughter Madelyn.
— NJ TRANSIT POLICE (@NJTransitPolice) January 16, 2023
Officer Montanaro heroically attempted to rescue her daughter during a house fire at their home in Hazlet NJ… pic.twitter.com/8HevQZMwDm
Jackie never made it out alive; William Montanaro was forced to turn around as he walked back in through the smoke.
He said that in a statement released after the incident, his wife “acknowledged the love of a mother and the courage of a police officer that fueled her attempt to save our child”.
“I have lost my sweet, loving, and vibrant baby, Madelyn, and my amazing wife, Jackie,” the post continued. The family dog, the Duchess, also died.
“We are totally devastated. The statement read: “The Duchess is no longer with us but is now resting with Jackie and Madelyn.”
Jacqueline reportedly held a supervisory position with US Customs and Border Protection at Newark Liberty International Airport.
The Monmouth County District Attorney’s Office reportedly told WABC that the incident did not seem out of the ordinary.
Both victims received CPR at the scene, but Domenico Montanaro, William Montanaro’s brother, told NJ.com that they later died at hospitals.
Domenico Montanaro recounted his brother’s memories.
“He said he woke up when the fire alarms went off (and) he went downstairs; the bottom floor — one of the walls on the side of the house that’s now burned was already on fire,” Domenico added.
He rushed back upstairs to get the family out as smoke was already billowing through the house. The entire second-floor area was quickly engulfed in a cloud of black smoke. They had about 10 seconds to leave the house before they were surrounded. And they gave it their best, he added.
Condolences and support for William Montanaro and the couple’s surviving daughter, Elena, have been pouring in online since the fire occurred at the family home on Brookside Avenue early Friday. https://t.co/07yeoQ2YJE
— Asbury Park Press (@AsburyParkPress) January 15, 2023
Messages of sympathy and support have poured in for William Montanaro and the couple’s surviving daughter, Elena since the fire broke out at the family’s Brookside Avenue home early Friday.
According to CBS, the deaths reportedly caused grief throughout the neighborhood.
Simply put, we are really disappointed. “How is this happening?” cannot be expressed in words. A preschool teacher named Jacqueline Frescki agreed.
Kindergarten teachers shed only tears as they mourned the deaths of Madelyn, 6, and her mother in Friday morning’s fire.
Sandy Hagberg, a preschool teacher at Miles of Smiles Daycare, said of her mother, “She was the epitome of the ideal person.” “She was always nice and kind to everyone, and she taught her girls to spread love and kindness.”.
Hagberg claimed that Jackie Montanaro played the character in her final moments.
Considering what a mother she was to these girls, Hagberg continued, “I’m not surprised at all.”
As the community grapples with the grief and pain of loss, they find comfort in the memories of Jackie’s love and kindness. The legacy of this dedicated mother and law enforcement officer will live on and inspire others to cherish their loved ones and show unwavering courage and love in the face of adversity.
Jackie Montanaro’s life, though tragically cut short, serves as a poignant reminder of the selflessness and resilience that lies within the human spirit. As her family and community mourn her passing, they will forever remember a woman who touched so many lives with her compassion, dedication, and unwavering love for her family.