East Orange Police announced that the victim of the fire on Friday, July 22, has been identified as Ms. Cherry Davis, 69, of East Orange.
Police Officials state the three-alarm fire broke out at approximately 12:30 a.m. in an apartment located on the 100 block of Prospect Street in East Orange.
The victim was pronounced dead at 10:01 a.m. at University Hospital in Newark.
According to Police, firefighters were able to rescue many residents from the apartment building, but Davis was trapped in her apartment.
The preliminary investigation indicates the fire may have been started when a vehicle near the building caught fire.
The investigation is being handled by the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office and the East Orange Police and Fire and is active and ongoing.