Woman, 67, dies in Toms River apartment fire caused by careless smoking
Investigators say the fire started on a living room couch at the Highland Plaza Apartments on Friday night.
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A 67-year-old woman died in an apartment fire in Toms River Friday night that investigators determined was caused by careless smoking, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office.
The victim was identified as Barbara Booker, who lived at the Highland Plaza Apartments on Highland Parkway.
Police and firefighters responded to the complex around 11:20 p.m. and saw smoke coming from a second-floor apartment.
READ MORE: Careless smoking caused deadly Toms River apartment fire, prosecutor says
Firefighters found Booker dead on the living room floor during an initial search of the apartment, authorities said.
An investigation determined that the fire started on a couch along the east wall of the living room. Officials ruled the fire accidental and attributed it to careless smoking.
An examination conducted Saturday by the Ocean County Medical Examiner's Office determined that Booker died from smoke inhalation. Her death was ruled accidental.
