Updated: Dix Hills Woman Jumps Out of Burning Home

Seaman Neck Road in Dix Hills carries the stench of charred wood hours after a Dix Hills woman jumped from her roof into a police officer's arms to escape her burning home.

According to Suffolk County Police, flames erupted at 143 Seaman Neck Road at approximately 2:45 a.m. Thursday morning. Anita Bareja, 37, was home at the time of the fire and climbed to her roof to escape the flames, responders said. She called 911 to report the fire and told police she was trapped on her roof.

According to police, Officer William O'Rourke responded and convinced Bereja that he would catch her if she jumped. She leaped off the roof of her two-story home into O'Rourke arms. Both Bereja and O'Rourke were transported to Huntington Hospital for minor injuries.

The exterior structure still stands, but holds only a black charred interior. The town of Huntington condemned the house later that morning. 

"I walked outside and the whole street was filled with smoke. Everything was burned," neighbor Julianna Widman said.

"The whole side of the house was orange. I mean bright orange," neighbor Jeff Stein added.

Bereja lived in the home with her 13-year-old son, who was not home at the time of the fire.

The Dix Hills Fire Department, as well as the Melville, Greenlawn and Commack departments were on scene to fight the fire. Huntington Manor also provided mutual aid.The cause of the fire is unknown and Suffolk County Arson Section detectives are investigating the fire.

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