Crime & Safety
Manitou Park Firefighter Recovering; Gets Visits From His Brothers
Injured firefighter anxious to get back on the truck
By Patricia A. Miller
Manitou Park firefighter Chris Applegate has a few words for his comrades and all those who rallied around him after he was injured in a blaze Saturday night.
"Thank you to all for your well wishes it means the world to me, something so little means the world to me," he posted on the Manitou Park Fire Company's Facebook page.
"I love being a firefighter and I'll be right back out there when I'm healed doing it again! "The brotherhood."
Applegate is recovering at Jersey Shore University Medical Center from injuries he received when a ceiling in a Holiday City home collapsed on him Saturday night.
"I am doing ok, still very sore but the doctors don't see anything major! I appreciate all your prayers and kind words, i will be staying in the trauma center again tonight for more observation!"
Fire Chief Will Jubert said Applegate is making a good recovery and thanked township officials, fellow firefighters and residents for their support.
"Chris is doing good, his spirits are high and he is looking forward to getting back on the engine in the near future," Jubert wrote on Facebook.
The fire started in the bed of a 2013 Toyota Tacoma on Saturday night and quickly spread to the attic and the rest of the house at 116 San Carlos Drive in Holiday City, police said.
The ceiling caved in on Applegate, Beachwood and Pinewald Pioneer Fire Chief Bill Dasti, 39, Bayville. Dasti was injured as he attempted to extricate Applegate, police have said.
The original dispatch was for a vehicle fire in front of the home, Jubert told Patch on Saturday night.
"Within minutes, it was re-dispatched as a structural fire," Jubert said.
Applegate was flown to Jersey Shore, Dasti was taken to Community Medical Center in Toms River, where he was reported in stable condition, police said last night.
The blaze is under investigation the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, the Ocean County Fire Marshal's Office and township Fire Official Jack Weigartner.
The original dispatch was for a vehicle fire in front of the home, Jubert told Patch on Saturday night.
"Within minutes, it was re-dispatched as a structural fire," Jubert said.
Applegate was flown to Jersey Shore, Dasti was taken to Community Medical Center in Toms River, where he was reported in stable condition, police said last night.
The blaze is under investigation the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, the Ocean County Fire Marshal's Office and township Fire Official Jack Weigartner.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here
