BERKELEY – The fire that killed a 93-year-old resident was ruled accidental, officials said.
A fire broke out at 66 Castle Harbor Drive in Holiday City May 21. Emergency crews arrived to see heavy smoke pouring from the rear of the house. Crews found and removed the elderly woman from the home. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Ocean County Medical Examiner said the woman died from
smoke inhalation.
The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Arson Unit determined the fire was caused by closet contents being too close to a light fixture, Prosecutor Bradley D. BIllhimer said.
The prosecutor thanked the Bayville Fire Department, Manitou Park Fire Department, Pinewald Pioneer Fire Department, and Toms River Fire Company #2 for extinguishing the fire. He also thanked the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Arson Unit, Berkeley Township Police Department, Ocean County Fire Marshall’s Office and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department Crime Scene Investigation Unit for their cooperation in this investigation.
