Frantic efforts to revive an unconscious senior man found inside a burning home in Elizabeth last night were unsuccessful as fire officials now attempt to determine the cause of the fatal fire.
According to a statement released by Elizabeth city officials, the single alarm fire had firefighters rushing to 215 Rahway Avenue just before 8 p.m. where they arrived to find thick smoke inside a garden style apartment building.
Fast responding firefighters were able to locate the origins of the fire then contain it to a single apartment inside the building where the city's bravest knocked down flames in less than twenty minutes officials said.
A brief search of the apartment had firefighters locate an unconscious and unresponsive 75-year-old male who they pulled from a bedroom.
Elizabeth officials said firefighters and EMS provided life-saving techniques on the man in an attempt to gain consciousness during his transport to Trinitas Hospital where medical personnel officially pronounced him dead a short time later.
Fire officials have not stated the cause of the blaze, but preliminary reports indicated that the reason might have been due to a mattress fire that ignited inside the bedroom.
Residents inside the building were allowed to return to their apartments shortly after the investigation, and there were no other injuries reported city officials said.