Fatal Fire At Hazlet Home Claims Lives Of Mother, Young Daughter

HAZLET, NJ — A Hazlet family is mourning the deaths of their mom and young daughter in a fire Friday, a relative said.

Mom Jackie Montanaro, 40, and daughter Madelyn, 6, both lost their lives as a result of the fire, authorities confirmed. Relatives said they died Saturday in the hospital.

William Montanaro said his wife made a heroic effort to go into the house to save Madelyn.

She and Madelyn were revived at the scene and were taken to St. Barnabas Hospital in Livingston, but efforts to save their lives failed, brother-in-law Domenico Montanaro said on Sunday. He said Jackie Montanaro died early Saturday morning. Madelyn died that afternoon.

William Montanaro thanked the community for its outpouring of support:

"First, our entire family would like to say thank you to the first responders for their tireless efforts, the nurses and hospital staff for their care and understanding, and our Hazlet neighbors and broader Jersey Shore community for rallying by our side in this extraordinarily difficult and painful time," he wrote on social media.

Fire destroyed the family home at 10 Brookside Ave., Domenico Montanaro, said.

The parents of the brothers recently moved to Holmdel, where William Montanaro and his surviving daughter are now staying, his brother said. Domenico, now a journalist with National Public Radio, had once taught English at Raritan High School in Hazlet so the family has many ties to the area.

William Montanaro wrote of his loss and of the heroism of his wife, who was a Customs and Border Protection supervisor:

"I am heartbroken. I have lost the love of my life – my beautiful wife, Jackie – and my sweet, loving, spunky little girl, Madelyn.

"Jackie was a hero. When I rushed back into the house for Madelyn, I became enveloped in a massive amount of thick, hot black smoke. Without hesitation, Jackie then charged in with a mother’s love and the courage of a police officer fueling her attempt to save our daughter," William Montanara said.

William is an official with the Boy Scouts of America. His wife worked with Customs and Border Protection at Newark Liberty Airport.

Fundraising is taking place from several sources, according to Hazlet police:

"As the Hazlet community tries to wrap our heads around such a tragic event, please keep the Montanaro family in your thoughts and help support them if you can. We have vetted three different organizers that are taking collections for this family, police said:

• The Raine Foundation is collecting gift cards that can be dropped off at the Hazlet police department and will go directly to the family.
• A GoFundMe site will give proceeds to the family.
• The Monmouth County Council of the Boy Scouts where Mr. Montanaro is employed is also collecting funds for its Alumni Disaster Fund that will help the family with their immediate needs.

Domenico Montanaro said he and his family are still in shock, but he said the family is coming together to support his younger brother and his surviving daughter Elena, age 8.

He said the family dog, a Goldendoodle Duchess, survived the blaze and was seen running away, and he said his brother is now anxious to have their dog back and appreciates any help from the community in finding her.

William Montanaro also wrote of Duchess: "A search continues for our beloved dog, Duchess. Thank you to our neighbors and the scores of people, the Hazlet Police Department and surrounding communities’ law enforcement who have been, and continue to, press to find her," he wrote.

His brother Domenico added that the Hound Hunters nonprofit is on site and asks that bystanders not gather near the house in case the dog tries to return there and to not leave out food or water. Duchess will be most likely to be on the move at dawn and dusk. If Duchess is spotted, do not approach or call out for her, the family says.

Immediately call Marisa at 732-770-3548 with information. Please include: 1. Time of spotting 2. Exact location of spotting 3. Condition of Duchess (i.e. any visible injury), the family said.

Domenico Montanaro has lived in Washington, DC, for many years now, but his brother and sister-in-law settled in Hazlet and loved living there, he said.

"They loved being close to the Shore," he said. Their house, he said, "was their dream house."

He emphasized that the cause of the fire has not been determined. He said his brother thinks it may have been electrical, however.

The Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office said in a statement: "Although we do not believe the fire is suspicious in nature, the fire is under active investigation. We have no further comment at this time."

William Montanaro continued his letter to the community:

"Jackie was a devoted Customs and Border Protection officer, and we thank her colleagues and the agency for their ongoing support and love. They have been boundless in their efforts for us, even as they grieve for their friend.

"Words cannot express the overall gratitude and outpouring of support for myself and Elena. We are humbled."

As he stays with his family in Holmdel, joined by his brother and sister, he said his attention is on his daughter Elena:

"I am now focused on getting my daughter the support and help she’s going to need, so we can rebuild our lives together. At this point in time, I please ask that you respect our privacy. I need to lay my family to rest and put 100 percent of my attention on my daughter, Elena," William Montanaro wrote.

His brother said funeral arrangements have not been determined as yet.

The fire brought out mutual aid units from Hazlet, Keansburg, Keyport, Union Beach, Holmdel, Middletown, Tinton Falls and Matawan, alongside the Monmouth County EMS Task Force, Medical Ambulance Bus 6, the Monmouth County Fire Marshal’s Office and the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office.

A Hazlet firefighter was also injured, but authorities said he was treated and released at a hospital on Friday. Unofficially, a source said the firefighter received burns but is recovering.