1 Dead, 1 'Critical' In House Fire In Manchester's Cedar Glen West

MANCHESTER, NJ — A woman was the victim found dead following a house fire in Manchester Township on Sunday, authorities said Monday.

The identity of the woman who died has not been released while family members are notified, authorities said. Her body was taken to Community Medical Center in Toms River for an autopsy and to identify her, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said Monday in an update

A second woman who was rescued from the fire is hospitalized in critical condition, the prosecutor's office said.

The cause and origin of the fire at the home on Heron Street in the Cedar Glen West section remain under investigation, the prosecutor's office said.

The fire was reported at 6:51 p.m., and Manchester police officers found the house fully engulfed in flames, Manchester Lt. James Komsa said Sunday evening.

The woman who escaped the fire told police another family member was still inside the burning home, and officers tried to go into the home to rescue that resident but were turned back by heavy smoke and heat, he said.

Three police officers who tried to go into the home were treated for smoke inhalation at Community Medical Center in Toms River and later released, Komsa said.

While the rescue was being attempted, other patrol officers evacuated residents from the adjoining quadplex, he said.

The Manchester, Whiting, Ridgeway, Joint Base, Lakehurst, Toms River, and Cassville fire departments responded to extinguish the fire. Manchester Emergency Medical Services responded to assess the residents and officers for smoke inhalation.

Detective Adam Emmons of the Manchester Police Investigations Bureau, Detective John Doran of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and the Ocean County Fire Marshal are investigating the fire, with assistance from the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department Crime Scene Investigation Unit and the Ocean County Medical Examiner.

Manchester Emergency Management Coordinator Robert Sharry and the American Red Cross also responded to assist with the incident.