Prosecutor: 17-Year-Old Dies in Fire

A 17-year-old male died in a fire at his Neptune home shortly before midnight on Monday during the in the wake of the tempestuous storm and massive power outage that hit New Jersey, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced on Tuesday.

A resident at the home, where power was still out, heard a fire alarm and awoke to find the boy’s room consumed with fire.

Neptune Township Police, Fire, and EMS responded to the 11:58 p.m. fire report involving possible entrapment at 1821 McBride Avenue in the township. When first responders arrived on the scene, two residents of the home were safely evacuated, but a third, the boy, was unaccounted-for and believed to be inside the home.

Police and firefighters made several attempts to search the residence, but efforts were hampered by heavy smoke and fire. The fire was ultimately extinguished and the 17-year-old was located in his bedroom deceased.  

The investigation to determine the cause and origin of the fire is ongoing.