Marques Hudson: NJ firefighter and father of three dies after battling house fire

PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY: A New Jersey community is left devastated after a firefighter and father of three lost his life while battling a house fire on Friday, January 26.

Marques Hudson, aged 32, sustained serious injuries while attending to a fire at a two-family residence on Emerson Avenue in Plainfield on Friday morning.

"He either fell through the floor or fell down the stairs, and we don't know the circumstances at this time," Mayor Adrian Mapp said at a press conference on Friday.

"There was a mayday that went out. And once that happened, four firefighters went in and got him out within anywhere from two to four minutes," he added.

Hudson died after he was taken to a hospital

Hudson was taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, where he died just over an hour later, the mayor said.

According to ABC affiliate WABC-TV, ten occupants were initially inside the multifamily residence when the fire broke out. It is not clear as of now what sparked the fire.

Three other firefighters were also injured

Three other firefighters were also injured in the fire and were transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, per WABC-TV and CBS affiliate WCBS-TV.

Hudson's colleagues, family, and friends are grieving over his death. Additionally, the town is facing a tragic first, as the mayor notes that no firefighter has previously lost their life in the line of duty.

"I lost someone who was under my direct charge and words cannot — I cannot convey the words of how I feel," Plainfield Fire Director Kenneth Childress said, WABC-TV reported.

City Councilman Robert K Graham told the station that Hudson joined the department in December 2021 and that he "exemplified the utmost courage of a dedicated first responder."

City and state officials also noted the now-dead firefighter’s character and commitment as a public servant.

“We are indebted to him in a way that words cannot fully express,” the officials said in a statement. “His impact will persist, serving as a perpetual source of inspiration and guidance for us in the days ahead.”

What did the New Jersey Governor say?

Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey has issued an order for flags across the state to be flown at half-staff as a mark of respect for Marques Hudson.

“The tragic loss of this courageous young man is a reminder of the great risks our firefighters face every day in the line of duty,” Murphy said, per WCBS-TV. “We owe a debt of gratitude to all of the brave firefighters, like Firefighter Marques Hudson, who serve our state.”

In addition to his children, Hudson is survived by his mother, sister and brother, the Courier News reported.