Toms River Woman Identified Following Deadly Apartment Fire

Toms River Woman Identified Following Deadly Apartment Fire

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A 67-year-old Toms River woman lost her life after a fire broke out inside her apartment Friday night, according to authorities.

The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office identified the victim as Barbara Booker on Sunday. Officials said the fire was reported at approximately 11:20 p.m. at the Highland Plaza Apartments on Highland Parkway.

Toms River police officers and firefighters responded to the apartment complex after receiving reports of a fire. Upon arrival, crews discovered smoke coming from an apartment on the second floor.

Firefighters entered the residence and found Booker unresponsive on the living room floor. She was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Investigators determined that the fire began on a couch positioned along the eastern wall of the living room. Authorities concluded that the blaze was accidental and resulted from careless smoking.

An autopsy performed Saturday found that Booker’s death was caused by smoke inhalation sustained during the apartment fire.

The investigation was conducted jointly by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Arson Squad, the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Toms River Police Department, the Bureau of Fire Prevention, and the Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office.