BERKELEY – A house fire that left one person critically injured has been ruled accidental, officials said.
On February 7 around 8:20 p.m., Berkeley Township Police and Fire Departments were dispatched to Berkeley Avenue regarding a fire with a possible entrapment.
On scene, emergency personnel found heavy fire coming from the front of the structure with three people outside. Two of the occupants were brought to RWJ Barnabas Community Medical Center in Toms River, where they were treated for minor injuries and released. The third person was airlifted to Jefferson Health Burn Center in Philadelphia, where he is listed in critical but stable condition, officials said. Firefighters took out the blaze, and the scene was secured by the morning.
After extensive examination, officials discovered that the fire originated in the southwest corner of the living room of the home. The cause of the fire was determined to be accidental, due to improperly discarded smoking material.
