Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka and Public Safety Director Anthony F. Ambrose announced that Newark Firefighter Paul Leber, 38, who was injured during a December 30th fire at 8 Park Avenue, will be released from Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx today at 11a.m.
Firefighter Leber will receive a police escort from Jacobi Medical Center to Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, 1199 Pleasant Valley Way, West Orange, New Jersey officials said.
According to fire officials, 9:12 p.m. on December 30th, firefighters responded to a two-alarm fire at Velez Tire Shop in which Leber, a 10-year veteran, became disoriented inside the building.
Firefighter Leber was in the tire shop with other members of Engine 7, including a probationary firefighter.
Authoritiess said as conditions worsened, they were ordered out of the building. As they were exiting, Leber became disoriented and members of Engine 7 and Rescue 1 went back into the building with other firefighters and rescued him.
Leber was transported to Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx for treatment.
The cause and the origins of this fire, which was declared under control shortly after 11 p.m., remain under investigation by arson detectives from the Newark Fire Division.