Woman Dies In Apartment Fire In Ocean County, Prosecutor Says

WARETOWN, NJ — An Ocean County woman died Thursday in a fire at a Waretown apartment complex, authorities said Friday.

The 71-year-old woman's name was not released on Friday.

The fire in the Lakeside Square Apartment complex, 290 North Main St. in Waretown, has been ruled accidental, a joint news release from Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and Ocean Township Police Chief Michal Rogalski said.

It was reported about 3 p.m. Thursday. Firefighters and Waretown police searched the building and found the woman dead in a first-floor bedroom, authorities said.

Investigators determined the fire had started on the bedroom floor and had been accidental due to smoking, authorities said.

The prosecutor's office Major Crime Unit-Arson Squad, Ocean County Sheriff's Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Ocean Township Police Department, Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office, and New Jersey State Fire Marshal’s Office investigated.