She worked hard as a Customs and Border Protection supervisor. She was a mother. On Friday, Jackie Montanaro passed away a hero while attempting to save one of her daughters from a house fire.
The fire broke out shortly after midnight in Hazlet, New Jersey. According to William Montanaro, he and his wife escaped the fire. Elena, their 8-year-old daughter, did as well, according to WABC-TV. According to CBS, Jackie Montanaro raced in to save Madelyn, a 6-year-old girl.
When William Montanaro went back inside, he was turned around by the smoke, but Jackie never got it out alive.
In a statement released following the incident, he stated that his wife “charged in with a mother’s love and the courage of a police officer propelling her attempt to save our baby.”
“I am dev-astated. “I have lost my wonderful wife, Jackie, and my sweet, loving, lively young baby, Madelyn,” the statement added. Duchess, the family dog, also passed away.
“We are completely devastated.” “Duchess is no longer with us, but she is now at rest with Jackie and Madelyn,” the statement stated.
With profound sadness, we mourn the tragic loss of US Customs & Border Protection Supervisory Officer Jacqueline Montanaro and her young daughter Madelyn.
— NJ TRANSIT POLICE (@NJTransitPolice) January 16, 2023
Officer Montanaro heroically attempted to rescue her daughter during a house fire at their home in Hazlet NJ… pic.twitter.com/8HevQZMwDm
According to NJ.com, Jacqueline worked as a supervisory US Customs and Border Protection officer at Newark Liberty International Airport.
According to WABC, the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office stated that the event did not appear to be suspicious.
According to Domenico Montanaro, William Montanaro’s brother, both vic-tims were given CPR at the site but subsequently passed away in hospitals, according to NJ.com.
Domenico Montanaro recounted his brother’s memories.
“He said he awoke to fire alarms going off (and) walked downstairs; the bottom floor — one of the walls on the side of the house that’s now burnt was already in fIames,” Domenico explained.
“Smoke was already pouring through the house, so he dashed back upstairs to get the family out. Within seconds, the entire second level was enveloped in a cloud of black smoke. They had about 10 seconds to get out of the house before they were surrounded. “And they did their best,” he continued.
Condolences and support for William Montanaro and the couple’s surviving daughter, Elena, have been pouring in online since the fire occurred at the family home on Brookside Avenue early Friday. https://t.co/07yeoQ2YJE
— Asbury Park Press (@AsburyParkPress) January 15, 2023
According to CBS, the deaths touched a chord of loss throughout the neighborhood.
“We’re just really disappointed. There are no words. “How come this is happening?” Jacqueline Frescki, a preschool teacher, agreed.
There were only tears on Monday as preschool teachers mourned the loss of Madelyn, 6, and her mother in the Friday morning fire.
“She was the epitome of the ideal person. “She was always sweet and good to everyone, and she instilled that in her girls, to spread love and kindness,” Sandy Hagberg, a preschool instructor at Miles of Smiles Daycare, said.
Jackie Montanaro, according to Hagberg, was playing in character in her final minutes.
“It doesn’t surprise me at all given the kind of mother she was to those girls,” Hagberg added.