The Congress Drive fire was reported at approximately 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 26.
A 68-year-old woman suffered fatal injuries in a house fire on Tuesday, Dec. 26, at 1759 Congress Drive, Washington Township.
The fire was reported at 4 p.m. When Washington Township first responders arrived at the seen, they observed “thick, black smoke, as well as flames,” coming from the home. Neighbors removed Carol Nicosia from the home after seeing smoke billowing from the house. She was the only person in the house at the time of the fire.
At the time, the two neighbors and Nicosia were found on the front lawn; Nicosia was unconscious and unresponsive with burns on her hands and face, police report. According to the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s office, Nicosia was pronounced dead at Cooper Medical Center in Camden at 7:49 p.m.
According to the county Prosecutor’s Office, firefighters brought it under control in about an hour, but there was extensive damage to the structure.
Initial indications were the fire was accidental in origin, however it remains under investigation by the Gloucester County Fire Marshal, the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office and Washington Township fire officials.
An autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 27, by the Gloucester County Medical Examiner’s Office.
