KEARNY – Ann Lewis who lived 238 Belleville Pike in Kearny died last night at approximately 5 p.m. in the Burn Unit at St. Barnabas Heath Care Center in Livingston. Her injuries were sustained during a fire at her home. Despite valiant attempts to save her life, the severity of her condition finally took its toll.
Manuel Delgado, who lives at 268 Belleville Turnpike and knows the family, was leaving his home and saw the smoke coming from the Lewis house. He ran over to the building and started calling for Bruce, Ann Lewis’ 60-year-old son, according to Kearny Fire Inspector Chuck Kerr. Delgado did not receive any answer. Bruce Lewis was not home at the time.
An unidentified Hispanic man also came over to help.
Then, Aloysius Tawlowicz, whose father owns Pizzaland located at 260 Belleville Turnpike on the North Arlington side, was making a delivery when he saw smoke coming from the building where Lewis lived.
The three men rushed into the burning building. There was an intense amount of fire and heat on the first floor and then Delgado later told Kerr he “heard a weird noise.”
Using his cell phone light to make his way up the stairs, he found Ann Lewis gasping for air on the second floor landing.
The three men retrieved Lewis from the landing and put her outside on the ground. Since the house was now burning out of control, the men decided not to go back in.
At some point, the unidentified man left the scene.
“Delgado knew she wasn’t very mobile,” Fire Inspector Chuck Kerr said. “They did a great job getting her out of there.”
Delgado, the unidentified man, and Talowicz pulled Lewis from the burning building, prior to the arrival of the Kearny fire department.
Deputy Chief Anthony Calabrese was first on the scene.
The two-alarm fire was on Tuesday March 25 at 5:37 p.m. All Kearny uptown fire companies: Engine 3, Engine 1 and Engine 2 along with Ladder 2, arrived at the scene. Deputy Chief
The 88-year-old woman was flown to the Burn Unit at St. Barnabas Heath Care Center in Livingston immediately from Gunnel Oval by a New Jersey State Police operated NorthSTAR medevac helicopter, who were requested to do so by Kearny EMS Chief Harry McNeil.
Lewis was in critical condition with third-degree burns to 15 to 20 percent of her body at that time of the fire.
“The department sends their condolences to the Lewis family during this difficult time,” Acting Chief Steven Dyl said. “I also want to commend the two men for quick and selfless action.”
Dyl said the fire was under control in 20 minutes with assistance from Harrison and North Arlington fire departments on board for mutual aid. Jersey City and East Newark fire departments covered Kearny stations during the incident.
The cause is determined as accidental, possibly due to careless smoking, by Kearny Fire Inspector Officials.
