Plumsted mobile home fire that killed woman ruled accidental
PLUMSTED - A mobile home fire left one dead on Wednesday, but the cause of the fire has been ruled accidental, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced Thursday.
Around 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, a mobile home fire was reported on Lakewood Road in Plumsted Township, the prosecutor said. Upon arrival, officers saw heavy smoke coming from the mobile home, with a man outside the residence and another victim still trapped inside.
The male victim - later identified as the homeowner, 79-year-old Paul Hakos - was taken to CentraState Medical Center in Freehold for treatment of his injuries, Billhimer said. He is listed in stable condition. Firefighters found the body of a female victim, later identified as Catherine Hakos, 63, in the back bedroom of the residence. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to Billhimer, a multi-agency investigation found that the fire originated underneath the structure, and that a failure of energized electrical equipment could not be eliminated as the cause. The fire has been ruled accidental.
Jenna Calderón covers breaking news and cold cases in Monmouth and Ocean counties. Before coming to the Press, she covered The Queen City for Cincinnati Magazine in Ohio. Contact her at 330-590-3903; jcalderon@gannettnj.com
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Fatal Plumsted mobile home fire ruled accidental
