Smoking Near Oxygen Tank May Have Started Fatal New Jersey Blaze
He said a team of investigators determined the fatal blaze started in the bedroom of the one-story residence on Bastian Drive in the Holiday Village section.
The victim, Herbert Behrens, was discovered in the bedroom by rescue workers. He was buried deep in debris caused when a section of the roof collapsed, Dukes said Tuesday.
The chief said the elderly man walked with assistance, used oxygen to assist in breathing and may have attempted to smoke in the room.
"Oxygen is an accelerant to fire. It can take a flame and instantly turn it into a blow torch. It's incredible and lethal," said Dukes.
He said a neighbor reported the blaze at 1:23 p.m. after she saw smoke pouring through a window in the back of the small home.
By the time the first responders from the nearby Birchfield station arrived three and a half minutes later, they encountered heavy fire and smoke conditions, according to Dukes.
He said three teams of rescuers entered the burning house to search for Behrens, but were unable to locate him because he was beneath the debris.
He was found after the blaze was declared under control in approximately 18 to 20 minutes.
The chief said Behrens was alone when the fire broke out. His wife, Gloria, had left 20 minutes earlier to shop with a relative.
The blaze did extensive damage to the bedroom, a dressing area, the attic and a portion of a hallway. The residence was uninhabitable, said Dukes.
No one else was injured in the fire but one police officer was taken to the hospital for treatment of heat exhaustion.
All three township stations responded to the scene along with a unit from Evesham as well as the township EMS and county paramedics.