MIDDLESEX COUNTY

Sayreville fire: 3 seriously hurt, ex-councilman's house destroyed

Bob Makin
@ReporterBMakin
  • Three family members of Sayreville attorney Paul DeSarno are in critical condition from a fire.
  • The DeSarnos Main Street home was destroyed in the early Monday morning fire.
  • Henry DeSarno%2C 27%2C is in critical condition at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital.

UPDATE Sayreville fire: 4 DeSnarno family members still critical

SAYREVILLE - In a holiday season tragedy, the home of a prominent attorney and former borough councilman and public defender was destroyed in a pre-dawn fire Monday, leaving three residents in serious condition.

The fire forced four residents to climb to the roof of the Main Street home and two of them to jump out. Firefighters battling the blaze were ordered out of the home before the second floor collapsed, officials said.

The home is owned by Paul A. DeSarno, who was treated and released from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, and his wife Kim Klitzke DeSarno, who is in critical condition along with son Arthur, 20, at the Burn Unit of the Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livington.

DeSarno's son, Henry, 27, also is in critical condition at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. Two other relatives not identified by authorities were treated and released from the hospital.

An online newsletter published by the family's church, Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in South River, identified them as daughter Shelby DeSarno, a 2014 graduate of Sayreville War memorial High School, and her maternal grandfather, Max Klitzke, 83. The parish newsletter requested prayer for the DeSarno family.

Sayreville firefighters survey the damage of a house fire on 451 Main St.

A neighbor notified the Sayreville Police via a 911 call at 3:19 a.m. about the fire at 451 Main St. The first emergency units arrived on scene at 3:23 a.m. and reported heavy fire with people on the roof calling for help. On the front lawn, rescuers found two injured people who had apparently jumped to escape the blaze.

Sayreville firefighters used a ladder to rescue two victims from the roof of the dwelling while police officers rescued a third victim through a rear door.

Carlos Almeida, a neighbor, said he saw the flames from his house.

"A young guy jumped out the window," he said. "I saw the ambulances take two people to the hospital."

Kim and Arthur DeSarno suffered burns and traumatic injuries, officials said.

After on-scene treatment by the Raritan Bay Medical Center MICU Paramedics, Kim DeSarno was flown to Robert Wood by NorthStar, while Arthur was transported by the Sayreville Emergency Squad to the same hospital. Both eventually were transferred to Saint Barnabas.

No emergency responders were injured.

Staff Writer Bob Makin: 732-565-7319; bmakin@MyCentralJersey.com