Berkeley, NJ house fire that led to a man passing away is ruled accidental, prosecutor says

🚒 Cause of Berkeley Township house fire on Wednesday revealed

🚒 A man inside of the home at the time of the fire passed away

🚒 The fire originated in the living room of the residence in Berkeley

An investigation into a Wednesday afternoon house fire that claimed the life of a man in Berkeley Township has been ruled accidental.

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said they learned through the multi-agency investigation that the cause of the fire was smoking and that it started on a living room recliner inside of the Tortola Street home shortly before 1:30 pm.

A 59-year old man was found on the floor of the home as firefighters worked to put out the blaze.

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He was taken to Community Medical Center where he passed away a short time later.

Prosecutor Billhimer said that the investigation into the fire was done by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Arson Squad, Ocean County Sheriff's Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Berkeley Township Police Department Detective Bureau, and Berkeley Township Bureau of Fire Prevention.