Fire at residence started with dumping of ashtray

MONROE — Police and fire officials responded to a fire Monday at a house on Delair Road in the Clearbrook retirement community.

The fire, called in by a neighbor who observed smoke coming from the home, was started accidentally when the resident, George Sweitzer, 85, emptied his pipe into an ashtray and dumped the ashtray into the garbage, police said. The fire then began to spread in the kitchen.

The resident attempted to put out the fire himself, but was unsuccessful. He suffered from smoke inhalation and was transported to The Medical Center at Princeton for an evaluation.

The home was heavily damaged in the fire.