SPARTA — A fire Thursday night that destroyed a house and critically burned a 26-year-old woman has been ruled an arson, authorities said.
But the arson was not a random act "and there's no cause for public alarm," Sussex County First Assistant Prosecutor Greg Mueller said.
Lindsey Kiensicki, who lives in the house on Fox Trail Road, was found at the end of the driveway by police while the fire was burning behind her, Sparta police Sgt. John-Paul Beebe said. She had severe burns to her head, face and arms, authorities said.
Kiensicki was airlifted to St. Barnabas Medical Center’s burn unit in Livingston, where she remains in "very critical" condition, Beebe said.
By this afternoon, Kiensicki was considered "critical but stable," said Ellen Greene, a Saint Barnabas spokeswoman.
Mueller said the case is still under investigation, and no further details were being released. The fire broke out around 7 p.m.
Star-Ledger staff writer Kathleen O'Brien contributed to this report.
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