1 Dead, 1 Hospitalized, 7 Escape Fatal Fire In North Plainfield

NORTH PLAINFIELD, NJ — Authorities are investigating a fatal fire in a North Plainfield home after one woman died, one man was hospitalized and seven escaped early Thursday morning.

A 911 call reported the fire at about 2:48 a.m. on May 16 at a single-family home on Grove Street. When North Plainfield Police arrived several people said there was a woman still inside the home, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson said.

Estefanie Brizuela-Garcia, 22, was found inside the home and later pronounced dead, Robertson said.

A 23-year-old man who was in the home was also transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset for smoke inhalation and non-life threatening burns to his back.

Seven other residents, ranging in age from three to 42, were able to evacuate, Robertson said.

Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and the Fire Investigation Unit with the North Plainfield Police Department are conducting an investigation into the cause and origin of the fire.

Investigators from the Northern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office also responded to the scene and a post-mortem examination will be conducted to determine the cause and manner of death, Robertson said.

This remains an active investigation and anyone with information is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office at 908-231-7100, or the North Plainfield Police Department at 908-769-2937 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ.

Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477) or online at www.888577tips.org or at www.scpo.net and click on either “Crime Stoppers” or “TIPS HOTLINE”. All anonymous Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.

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