JACKSON, NJ – A fire early Saturday morning at The Ponds at Jackson 21 apartment complex resulted in injuries to three police officers and one civilian.
Authorities were alerted to the incident around 2 a.m., following a fire alarm at building No. 7.
Upon arrival, fire crews discovered that the building’s fire suppression system had successfully extinguished the flames.
The sprinkler system was crucial in preventing the fire from escalating and causing further damage to the building, according to reports.
Jackson police officers helped evacuate residents, including a woman found inside the building. Three officers and a civilian were treated for smoke inhalation; one officer remained hospitalized.
Initial findings from the investigation suggest that a candle was likely the cause of the fire. The incident rendered two housing units uninhabitable, prompting the American Red Cross to assist three displaced residents. However, other residents have since been able to return to their homes.