A New Jersey law enforcement officer died in an attempt to rescue her young daughter from their burning house in the town of Hazlet, according to her husband.

Jacqueline Montanaro and her six-year-old daughter Madelyn died in the house fire early Saturday morning, reported NJ.com. Her husband William Montanaro and their eight-year-old daughter Elena survived.

The family was woken by fire alarms at around midnight Saturday morning, and Mr. Montanaro rushed to find his wife, two daughters and dog to help bring them outside to safety.

He, Jacqueline and their 8-year-old made their way through the house engulfed in smoke, making it difficult to see, before they eventually made it outside. But Madelyn was still in the home, so Mr. and Mrs. Montanaro ran back inside to retrieve their daughter.

NEW JERSEY HOUSE EXPLOSION LEAVES FIVE FIREFIGHTERS INJURED

"When I rushed back into the house for Madelyn, I became enveloped in a massive amount of thick, hot black smoke," Mr. Montanaro said in a statement issued by his brother.

"Without hesitation, Jackie then charged in with a mother's love and the courage of a police officer fueling her attempt to save our daughter," he continued. 

Mr. Montanaro said his wife worked as a supervisory U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer at Newark Liberty International Airport.

As smoke continued to fill the home, Mr. Montanaro managed to make his way back outside. However, his wife and youngest daughter failed to make it out.

"I am heartbroken. I have lost the love of my life – my beautiful wife, Jackie – and my sweet, loving, spunky little girl, Madelyn," Mr. Montanaro said, adding that "Jackie was a hero."

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Mrs. Montanaro and Madelyn were transported to the hospital for treatment in critical condition before they both died from their injuries.

It is unclear what started the fire, and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office told local media that the incident is under investigation.

Mr. Montanaro said in his statement that he is now focused on helping his surviving daughter receive the "support and help she’s going to need, so we can rebuild our lives together."

He also said the family's dog remains missing. Mr. Montanaro was searching Sunday with an organization called Hound Hunters for the Goldendoodle.

"A search continues for our beloved dog, Duchess," he said. "Thank you to our neighbors and the scores of people, the Hazlet Police Department and surrounding communities’ law enforcement who have been, and continue to, press to find her."

A GoFundMe page for the family started by Customs United Service Alliance, Mrs. Montanaro' Customs' union, raised more than $200,000 as of Monday morning.

"We cannot express in words how tragic the loss of this amazing Supervisor, Colleague, Friend, Mom and Hero is to our community," the fundraiser read. "Jackie's ability to get any job done at work was only second to her love and devotion to her family at home."

The Monmouth County Council of the Boy Scouts Mr. Montanaro works for is also collecting donations for their Alumni Disaster Fund to support the family's needs. 

Brendan Fraser was overcome with emotions as he accepted the best actor trophy for his role in "The Whale" at the Critics Choice Awards Sunday.

The 53-year-old actor plays Charlie, a 600-pound gay, reclusive man who feels as though his life is coming to an end.

"It was Herman Melville who once wrote that there are only five critics in America — the rest are asleep," he said." 

He added, "I don't know what it means, either, but I'm sure glad you woke up for me. Where were you for ‘Furry Vengeance?’" Fraser called out his 2010 comedy where he starred alongside Brooke Shields and Ken Jeong.

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"This movie, ‘The Whale,’ is about love. It's about redemption. It's about finding the light in a dark place, and I'm so lucky to have worked with an ensemble that's incredible," Fraser said.

Through a trembling voice and shaking hands, he noted, "Took me 32 years to get here."

He called screenwriter Sam Hunter his "lighthouse" and praised director Darren Aronofsky.

"I was in the wilderness and I probably should have left a trail of bread crumbs, but you found me, and like all the best directors, you merely just showed me where to go to get me where I needed to be," Fraser said.

With tears in his eyes, he said, "If you're like Charlie, who I played in this movie, in any way, struggle with obesity, or you just feel like you're in a dark sea – I want you to know that if you can just get to your feet and go to the light, good things will happen. Thank you. Good night."

Fraser was up against Austin Butler in "Elvis," Tom Cruise in "Top Gun: Maverick," Colin Farrell in "The Banshees of Inisherin," Paul Mescal in "Aftersun" and Bill Nighy in "Living."

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He had largely stayed out of the spotlight after addressing physical ailments due to performing many of his own stunts on screen, and was then also plagued by the mental repercussion of an alleged sexual assault incident that happened in 2003.

It's Fraser's first leading role in almost a decade. 

"The Mummy" star has roles this year in Martin Scorsese's latest western film "Killers of the Flower Moon," and with Dawn Olivieri and Marcia Cross in "Behind the Curtain of Night."

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Here's a full list of the 28th Critics Choice Award winners:

Best Picture: "Everything Everywhere All at Once"

Best Actor: Brendan Fraser, "The Whale"

Best Actress: Cate Blanchett, "Tár"

Best Supporting Actor: Ke Huy Quan, "Everything Everywhere All at Once"

Best Supporting Actress: Angela Bassett, "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever"

Best Young Actor: Gabriel LaBelle, "The Fabelmans"

Best Acting Ensemble: "Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery"

Best Director: Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, "Everything Everywhere All at Once"

Best Original Screenplay: Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, "Everything Everywhere All at Once"

Best Adapted Screenplay: Sarah Polley, "Women Talking"

Best Cinematography: Claudio Miranda, "Top Gun: Maverick"

Best Production Design: Florencia Martin, Anthony Carlino, "Babylon"

Best Editing: Paul Rogers, "Everything Everywhere All at Once" 

Best Costume Design: Ruth E. Carter, "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever"

Best Hair and Makeup: "Elvis"

Best Visual Effects: "Avatar: The Way of Water"

Best Comedy: "Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery"

Best Animated Feature: Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio

Best Foreign Language Film: "RRR"

Best Song: Naatu Naatu, "RRR" 

Best Score: Hildur Guðnadóttir, "Tár"

Best Limited Series: "The Dropout"

Best Drama Series: "Better Call Saul"

Best Actor in a Drama Series: Bob Odenkirk, "Better Call Saul"

Best Actress in a Drama Series: Zendaya, "Euphoria"

Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: Giancarlo Esposito, "Better Call Saul"

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Jennifer Coolidge, "The White Lotus" 

Best Comedy Series: "Abbott Elementary"

Best Actor in a Comedy Series: Jeremy Allen White, "The Bear"

Best Actress in a Comedy Series: Jean Smart, "Hacks"

Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: " Henry Winkler, "Barry"

Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: Shery Lee Ralph, "Abbott Elementary"

Best Movie Made for Television: "Weird: The Al Yankovic Story"