On Saturday March 4, 2017 at 8:48 p.m. the Butler Police Department received a 9-1-1 call of a garage fire at 15 Belleview Avenue. Ptl. Bryan Gordon and Sgt. Colleen Pascale responded to the scene. Upon their arrival they were met outside by one of the residents, 26 year old Alison Ryan. Alison stated to Ptl. Gordon that her husband, 53 year old John Ryan was in the garage. Ptl. Gordon then went to the garage that was filled with heavy black smoke and observed John who collapsed from the smoke. Ptl. Gordon was at first unable to remove John because the amount of smoke coming from the garage. A few seconds later with the assistance of Sgt. Pascale they both entered the garage and pulled the unconscious male out of the garage just as it became engulfed in flames. Both officers then began to administer first aid to him. The Tri-Boro First Aid Squad and the Butler Fire Department also responded to the fire. Both John and Allison were both transported to Chilton Memorial Hospital for smoke inhalation. The Butler Fire Department then extinguished the fire. Two dogs that were located inside a vehicle were turned over to Animal Control for their care. The Butler Fire Inspector also responded to the seen to investigate the cause of the fire. This incident is still under investigation.
Patrolman Bryan Gordon went into the garage and found it full of heavy black smoke, and found the man collapsed inside, police said.
Gordon initially was not able to remove the man because of the amount of smoke coming from the garage, but Sgt. Colleen Pascale came in to assist and they removed the man just as the garage became engulfed in flames, police said.
The officers began administering first aid to the man, and Butler fire crews and the Tri-Boro First Aid Squad also responded, officials said.
The man and his wife were both taken to Chilton Medical Center in Pompton Plains for smoke inhalation, police said.
