4 Dead In Lacey House Fire: Prosecutor

LACEY, NJ — One person was injured and four were killed in a massive house fire Tuesday afternoon in Lanoka Harbor, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said.

Authorities arrived at the Buttonwood Drive house around 12:30 p.m. Aug. 1 to find a fully engulfed two-story structure fire, Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.

A female victim was rescued from the back of the house and taken to Community Medical Center for treatment of her injuries, Billhimer said.

It was reported that four additional people were still trapped inside the house, Billhimer said. Firefighters tried to save them but the roof caved in, forcing authorities to retreat, he said.

"This is an absolutely tragic situation. Sadly, four of the occupants of the residence perished in this fire," Billhimer said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by multiple agencies, he added.

More information will be released as it becomes available, Billhimer said.