Prosecutor's Office Identifies Fire Victim In Point Pleasant

POINT PLEASANT, NJ - An early morning fire that killed a Ridgefield Drive man has been ruled accidental, a spokesman for the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said.

Dennis Breuel, 65, died of smoke inhalation from a fire that began in the living room of his home, spokesman Al Della Fave said.

Breuel, the only occupant of the home, was found in the southeast bedroom behind the bedroom door. The blaze destroyed the front portion of the one-story structure, Della Fave said.

The fire was reported at 1:52 a.m. on Jan. 3 at 1161 Ridgefield Drive. The origin was found in the southeast corner of the living room.

"The cause of the fire is deemed accidental," Della Fave said. "A failure of energized electrical equipment could not be eliminated as the contributing factor."

The Prosecutor's Office Arson Unit, Fire Marshal’s Office, Ocean County Sheriff’s Department CIU, Ocean County Medical Examiner, and Point Pleasant Borough Detective Bureau assisted in the investigation.

Photo: Patch archive photo