4 dead in New Jersey house fire include teenager, baby
"This is an unspeakable tragedy, and our prayers are with the loved ones of these victims," Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said.
LACEY TWP., New Jersey (WPVI) -- Authorities have released more details about a house fire in Ocean County, New Jersey that claimed the lives of four people.
The prosecutor's office said Wednesday that the victims included 39-year-old Jennifer Wright, 34-year-old Alaina Wright, a 14-year-old girl and a four-month-old baby.
The names of the teen and the baby were not released by the prosecutor's office.
The fire was reported around 12:30 p.m. Tuesday at a two-story home on Buttonwood Drive in the Lanoka Harbor section of Lacey Township.
A 67-year-old woman, identified as Brenda Wright, was rescued from the rear of the home. She was injured in the blaze and is in stable condition at Community Medical Center.
According to investigators, there were reports of four additional people inside the home. A rescue attempt was made, but firefighters were forced to evacuate when the roof collapsed.
"This is an unspeakable tragedy, and our prayers are with the loved ones of these victims," Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said.
The fire has been ruled an accident.
Investigators say the fire started on a porch. While the cause remains under investigation, the prosecutor's office "improperly discarded smoking material cannot be eliminated as the cause of the fire."
Neighbors say the house went up in seconds.
"It was such a large explosion, my dogs were barking. We came out and everything was just black smoke. There were more explosions, maybe seven other ones after that," said Alicia Kemp. "It was awful."
