Off-duty Suffolk County Police Officer Helps to Rescue a Family of Four from Centereach House Fire.
Late Saturday night a brave little girl noticed her neighbors home was a blaze and ran to tell her father, an off-duty Cop. At approximately 10:50 PM, Caleigh Anson, a very courageous 12-year-old girl, noticed the house across the street was on fire. Caleigh alerted her dad, James Anson, a 7th Precinct COPE (Community Oriented Police Enforcement) officer. Caleigh called 911 while her father, Officer Anson rushed to the garage and retrieved a ladder. Officer Anson placed the ladder close to the second story window of the burning home at 2 Minto Court, in Centereach. The Homeowners, Jason and April Noon were screaming for help where Anson placed the ladder.
The front of the burning home was fully engulfed in flames at the time. Officer Anson climbed up the ladder. The husband and wife carefully passed their two young sons, to the Off-Duty Cop. At that point two members of the Sixth Precinct Gang Unit had responded. Officer Anson was able to pass the 7 and 5 year old children to the Gang Unit officers, who brought them to safety. Anson then helped rescue April Noon. Jason Noon was able to get down the ladder by himself.
Firefighters from Centereach, Stony Brook, Setauket, Coram, Selden, and Ronkonkoma Fire Departments responded. A firefighter was able to get in to rescue one of the family’s dogs which was transported to Selden Animal Hospital in apparently good condition. Sadly, the second family dog died at the scene.
Two neighboring houses were damaged from the fire. Jason and April Noon and their two children as well as a firefighter who suffered an ankle injury were all transported to Stony Brook University Hospital by Centereach Fire Department Ambulance with non-life-threatening injuries.
Arson Squad detectives and the Brookhaven Town Fire Marshal’s Office are investigating the cause of the fire.