Neshanic Fire Chief Improving After Falling ill at Township Fire

By Alicia Cruz
The Black Urban Times

William Iden, fire chief of the Neshanic Volunteer Fire Department, who collapsed Tuesday evening during a fire call, has been transferred to Morristown Memorial Hospital where his condition was upgraded to good.

Iden fell ill Tuesday while he responded to an electrical fire call at the home of Gene and Diane Reinhardt on Amwell Road. Township Fire Marshal Chris Weniger told the Daily Record that Iden had to be defibrillated at the scene to restore his heartbeat before being transported to the intensive care unit at Hunterdon Medical Center.

No other injuries were reported during the 9:23 p.m. fire that brought the township police, Neshanic Volunteer Fire Department, the township Office of Emergency Management; Hillsborough EMS 79-1, Somerset Medical Center MICU and engines 1,2, and 3 from the Hillsborough Fire Departments.

The fire, which temporarily displaced the Reinhardt's, was described as minor in nature and was contained to the basement.

"There was no electricity available in the home,'' Fire Marshal Winniger told the Daily Record.

The Defibrillation procedure is used to administer an electronic shock to the heart in order to reestablish normal contraction rhythms to the heart after cardiac arrest.

First responders and emergency medical units have portable defibrillators or automated external defibrillators (AEDs) handy for emergency incidents such as Iden's illness.