By: Richard L. Smith
Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens, II, West Orange Police Chief James P. Abbott, and West Orange Fire Chief Anthony Vecchio have announced an investigation into a tragic fire that claimed the lives of an adult and two children.
Shortly after 11:00 a.m., Saturdayc the West Orange Fire Department responded to reports of a fire at a residence on Liberty Street.
Upon arrival, firefighters encountered a small fire in the kitchen area but found heavy smoke throughout the home.
The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office said firefighters discovered three unresponsive victims inside and promptly removed them from the residence.
Despite efforts to render aid, all three were pronounced dead at the scene. The victims have only been identified as Grace Drury, 75, A.D., 8 and A.D., 3
The cause and origin of the fire are being investigated by detectives from the Prosecutor’s Crime Scene Investigations Bureau and the West Orange Police Department.
The cause and manner of death will be determined by autopsies conducted by the NJ Northern Regional Medical Examiner’s.