Two Dead, Three Rescued From Flanders Fire

Two Flanders residents died after an early-morning fire on Main Street Monday.

Acting Morris Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp and Mount Olive Police Chief Mark Spitzer confirmed in a release that Hesham Moustafa, 52, and a 7-year-old child died in the blaze. Two other 56 Main St. residents are hospitalized for treatment.

Flanders Fire Chief Frank Zeller said the boy's body was found in a bathtub in the residence, with Moustafa's body located slumped over the same tub, according to nj.com.

Three residents were rescued from the blaze, according to Mt. Olive Police Chief Mark Spitzer in a report by dailyrecord.com. One of them, a young girl, was taken from the residence not breathing, but was revived at the scene by emergency medical responders, the report said.

Police initially responded to the four-unit residence after a 911 call at 4:11 a.m. 

"We are very fortunate in Mt. Olive to have such great volunteers who consistently put their own well being in harms way to protect the rest of us. In particular today, to Greg, Kevin and Pat who ran into the burning structure to save lives, my sincerest thank you isn't nearly sufficient gratitude for your heroism," Mt. Olive Mayor Rob Greenbaum said on his Facebook page.

Nearby fire and EMS, including units from Long Valley, Hackettstown and the Mendhams and Chesters responded to the fire.

The cause and origin of the fire are under investigation.