SOUTHAMPTON, N.J. --
An early-morning house fire killed two people in Burlington County in New Jersey on Sunday.
The fire began just after 4:30 a.m. on Westminster Drive in a 55-and-older community called Leisuretown in Southampton.
Marc Bicking of the Vincentown Fire Department said two people were in the home when firefighters arrived.
"Firefighters from Vincentown Fire Company pulled one victim out," he said. "EMS started resuscitation efforts. That person was transported to the hospital (and was) later deceased."
State police identified the woman who died in the house as 78-year-old Lisbeth Crandal. Her husband, 80-year-old William, died at the hospital, state police said.
Firefighters said the fire could be seen up to three miles away.
New Jersey State Trooper Marc Castellano said Vincentown firefighters were the first on the scene.
"The volunteer Vincentown Fire Department did respond on scene first and actually entered the residence while it was fully involved," he said.
Twenty-five firefighters from four departments fought the blaze, which was knocked down in 12 minutes.
Neighbor and friend Ruth Hansen said the Crandals were "very lovely people."
"They kept to themselves," Hansen said. "She used to be very outgoing, and we used to have parties together."
She said she has known the couple since 1965. Hansen and her husband have lived here for 17 years, she said, and the Crandals had lived in their home for the last 10 years.
"I'm just so distraught," Hansen said. "I can't even tell you how bad I feel."
Hansen said she and Crandals enjoyed living in Leisuretown.
"They loved it here, yes," she said. "We all like it here. It's a really good community to be in."
Castellano said investigators believe the blaze started in the front of the one-story house. The fire did most of its damage to the garage and front of the house.
"We believe it did start in the garage," Castellano said.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
