Fire Claims Man's Life In Manchester, Ruled Accidental: Prosecutor

MANCHESTER, NJ — The body of a man was found in the remains of a Manchester home that was destroyed by a fire, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said Tuesday.

The fire has been ruled accidental, Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.

The fire on Laketree Court was reported about 8:30 p.m. Monday, Billhimer said.

Parts of the first and second floors of the structure had collapsed into the basement, and it was deemed unsafe to continue the fire investigation until daylight hours, he said.

The investigation Tuesday determined the fire began on the front porch of the house; "improperly discarded smoking material cannot be eliminated as the cause of the fire," Billhimer said.

The man's body was discovered within the collapsed area of the structure, he said. The man was taken to Community Medical Center in Toms River for an autopsy and identification, Billhimer said.

The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Arson Squad, Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office, Manchester Township Police Department Detective Bureau, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, New Jersey State Police K-9 Unit, and Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office, combined on the investigation.