73-Year-Old Homeowner ID'ed As Victim Of Franklin Fire

FRANKLIN, NJ — A 73-year-old homeowner has been identified as the fatal victim of a fire at her condo on Sunday night.

The structure fire was reported at 9:31 p.m. on Aug. 13 on Gregory Lane. Arriving units reported seeing heavy smoke and flames coming from the home.

Multiple neighbors stated that they believed that the homeowner was still in the condominium. Officers attempted to make entry but were unable to because of the smoke and flames, Franklin Township Police Department reorted.

Once the fire was extinguished firefighters were able to enter the condo where they found Maria Cisyk, 73, of Gregory Lane dead in her home.

• See Related: 1 Dead Following Franklin House Fire

Cisyk’s death was found to be accidental and caused by smoke inhalation, according to preliminary findings found through an autopsy conducted by the New Jersey State Regional Medical Examiner’s Office in Newark.

The fire does not appear to be suspicious in nature and appears to have started in the kitchen area. Four other condominiums suffered fire, smoke and water damage and were deemed uninhabitable. The residents from those units were displaced and are staying in the area with family or friends, police reported.

Firefighters from Franklin Park, Middlebush, Griggstown, Little Rocky Hill, Rocky Hill, Community, Somerset Fire and Rescue, North Brunswick and Kendall Park responded to the scene to extinguish the fire. Emergency Medical Personnel from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and Kendall Park First Aid Squad were also on scene.

(Image via Shutterstock)

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