Nov 22, 2008 11:34 pm US/Eastern
Doctor Dies From Injuries Sustained In N.J. Fire
WOODBURY, N.J. (CBS 3) ―
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A prominent South Jersey pediatrician has died, two days after a fire in his historic Woodbury home.
CBS
A prominent South
Jersey pediatrician has died, two days after a fire in his
historic Woodbury home.
Dr. Lawrence Epple, 54, was injured in a
house fire that killed his wife Nancy on Wednesday.
Dr. Epple fell from a second floor
window while trying to reach a ladder for safety.
Firefighters were called to a Victorian-style home in the 100 block of Delaware Street in Woodbury after reports of flames at about 12:45 a.m. on Wednesday.
Woodbury Police attempted to enter the front door of the building, but it was blocked by debris. One officer cut his hand attempting to force open the entrance.
Dr. Epple, was rushed to Cooper Medical Center Hospital in critical condition. He died from his injuries on Saturday afternoon.
Firefighters attempted to rescue Epple's wife, Nancy Johnson-Epple, who was trapped in a second floor bedroom, but were forced to evacuate the home due to the heavy flames. Johnson-Epple, 55, was later pronounced dead.
It took several fire companies over two hours to bring the intense blaze under control.
The cause of the fire has been ruled accidental due to a faulty electrical cord inside the house, but this wasn't the first fire inside the home.
In June, contractors accidentally set off a fire in the attic while using a blow torch to remove paint.
"They were just getting the house all painted and she was all enthused about getting the house painted. They had just got that roof repaired from the other fire, and now this happens," said friend, Dan Ball.
Authorities said the historic home, built in 1890, did not have any fire safety features.
The rescuing officers were treated at Underwood-Memorial Hospital, but they are expected to recover.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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