Husband Dies, Wife Seriously Hurt In Nutley Fire: Authorities

NUTLEY, NJ — A Nutley man died in a house fire on Myrtle Avenue on Saturday evening. His wife was injured and is hospitalized in serious condition, authorities said.

The fatal fire took place in a single-family, wood-frame home at 17 Myrtle Avenue around 6 p.m., according to a joint statement from the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office and the Nutley Police Department.

Joseph Collar, 74, was pronounced dead at the scene at 6:53 p.m., authorities said.

Collar’s wife, who was not named in an initial police statement, sustained serious injuries and was transported to Clara Maas Medical Center in Belleville. She is in serious condition, authorities said Sunday.

“The preliminary investigation indicates there was heavy fire damage in the garage,” authorities stated.

The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force and the Nutley police and fire departments are investigating the cause and origin of the blaze. No additional information was immediately available.

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