FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:  Raymond Worrall

PHONE: (201) 795-6400 Ext. 6737

EMAIL:  rworrall@hcpo.org

DATE: Friday, December 7, 2018

REGIONAL ARSON TASK FORCE INVESTIGATES FATALITY IN APARTMENT FIRE

Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez has released the following information:

On Wednesday, December 5, 2018, at approximately 5:20 p.m. the Jersey City Fire Department received notification of a fire at 2465 Kennedy Boulevard in Jersey City. Members of the Jersey City Fire Department and the Jersey City Police Department responded to that location. Upon arrival, members of the Jersey City Fire Department located and extinguished a fire in Apartment 2B.

While containing the fire, the first responders located a male with apparent injuries caused by the fire. The fire victim, who was later identified as Jerome Miller, age 83, of Jersey City, was pronounced dead at the scene at approximately 6:30 p.m. The Regional Medical Examiner’s Office has determined the cause of death to be smoke inhalation and thermal injuries and the manner of death to be accident.

An investigation is being conducted by the Hudson County Regional Arson Task Force. The fire is not considered suspicious at this time. The preliminary investigation has determined that the fire began in Apartment 2B. The investigation into the origin and cause of the fire is pending.

The Hudson County Regional Arson Task Force is actively investigating this case with assistance from the Jersey City Fire Department. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Prosecutor’s Office at 201-915-1345 or to leave a tip at: http://www.hudsoncountyprosecutorsofficenj.org/homicide-tip/. All information will be kept confidential.