FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Caitlin Mota
PHONE: (201) 577-6699
EMAIL: cmota@hcpo.org
DATE: Wednesday, January 12, 2022
PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION REVEALS ORIGIN AND CAUSE OF FATAL FIRE IN HOBOKEN
Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez has released the following information:
A preliminary investigation by the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Regional Arson Task Force and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has determined the Origin of a fatal fire at 38 Jackson Street in Hoboken on December 20, 2021 to be a first floor business. The investigation revealed the fire began in the rear of the building at Glass & Vapor House LLC and the Cause has been ruled an Accident. Investigators believe the presence of flammable material within that business likely contributed to the fire.
On Monday, December 20, 2021, at approximately 12:20 a.m., an on-duty Hoboken Police Officer heard a loud explosion in the area of Jackson Street. First responders arriving at the scene found an active fire in a warehouse located at 38 Jackson Street. The Hoboken Fire Department responded and was assisted in extinguishing the fire by the Jersey City Fire Department and North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue. Several surrounding buildings sustained fire and water damage.
During fire suppression activities, firefighters found two fire victims in the warehouse. Rose Marie Vos, 60, and a 61-year-old individual were both pronounced dead at the scene. The release of the second victim’s name is pending notification of next of kin. The cause and manner of death are pending the findings of the Regional Medical Examiner’s Office.
The Regional Arson Task Force continues to investigate this incident with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the New Jersey State Fire Marshal, the Hoboken Fire Department, and Hoboken Police Department. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office at 201-915-1345 or leave an anonymous tip on the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office official website at https://www.hudsoncountyprosecutorsofficenj.org/homicide-tip/. All information will be kept confidential.