South Orange House Fire Claims Owner’s Life: Police

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — Authorities are investigating a fatal house fire that claimed the life of a South Orange man on Sunday afternoon. Weyman W. Watson, 61, the owner of the home, was identified as the victim, according to a joint statement from Acting Essex County Prosecutor Robert Laurino, South Orange Fire Chief Daniel Sullivan and South Orange Police Chief Kyle Kroll.

South Orange firefighters responded to a report of a fire at a single-family home on the 300-block of Warwick Avenue around 2:15 p.m. On arrival, firefighters found an “active” blaze and entered the building, where they discovered an “unresponsive” man later identified as Watson on the first floor, authorities said.

Emergency responders removed Watson from the house and transported him to Saint Barnabas Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 3:24 p.m.

There were no other injuries, authorities said.

The Essex County Prosecutor's Office Crash and Fire Investigation Unit are investigating the cause of the fire, authorities stated. Anyone with information can call the Prosecutor's Tips Line at (877) 847-7432.

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