An unidentified construction worker helped rescue two victims trapped inside the apartment above a hair salon after the building caught fire Sunday, according to fire officials.
Marmora Volunteer Fire Chief Jay Newman said firefighters were dispatched after receiving multiple calls of a fire across the street from the Marmora Wawa on South Shore Road with possible occupants trapped on the second floor.
The Marmora Volunteer Fire Company and Upper Township Division of EMS were dispatched at 2:30 p.m. Seaville Fire and Rescue, Tuckahoe Fire Company and the Ocean City Fire Department were also called for assistance. They arrived at the building, which contained both the Chop Shop hair salon and a residential apartment, to find heavy fire on both floors at the back of the building as well as fire in two cars parked there.
Before firefighters arrived on the scene, Newman said, a man, who has yet to be identified, placed a construction ladder up to the home to help the two people trapped inside. The stairs that provided the only way down from the top-floor apartment had burned away.