Blaze Sparked By Cigarette Kills Kearny, New Jersey Woman As 3 Others Flee

A smoky house fire apparently caused by a discarded cigarette claimed the life of a 68-year-old Kearny woman yesterday morning, but her husband and a couple living downstairs -- the victim's pregnant step-daughter and her husband -- were able to escape.

All three were out when the first firefighters arrived at 400 Belgrove Drive about 9 a.m., but firemen had to battle intense smoke and flames for five to 10 minutes before they could reach the victim, Joan Stevenson, in the second-floor kitchen, Fire Chief Anthony Calabrese said.

Stevenson had burns on her face, hands and upper torso, but was alive when she was brought out, the chief said. She died after being taken to West Hudson Hospital in Kearny.

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Blaze Sparked By Cigarette Kills Kearny Woman As 3 Others Flee