HILLSBOROUGH: Couple dies in fire at home

Blaze doesn’t appear suspicious, police say

   A High Acre Drive couple died in a fire at their home Thursday evening, Dec. 5.
   The fire is still under investigation, but did not appear suspicious, police said.
   Police said a phone call about the fire was received at about 8:15 p.m.
   According to the Hillsborough Fire Company No. 3 website, when firefighters arrived they found a female resident, Theresa Kwiatek, 66, on the first floor about six feet inside the residence; they began CPR lifesaving procedures.
   Search teams from Hillsborough stations based in Flgatown and Route 206 entered the home and recovered the body of the woman’s husband, Edward Kwiatek Jr., 69, the website said.
   Fire crews quickly knocked down the fire in the home’s unfinished basement, according to the website. Christopher Weniger, the township fire marshal, said the source was not related to the furnace, gasoline, fuel oil or other combustible liquids.
   The Hillsborough Township Rescue Squad took both victims to Somerset Medical Center, where they were later pronounced deceased.
   The victims’ pet dog was also found deceased in the home.
   Besides township police, rescue squaders and three Hillsborough fire companies, fire companies from Manville, Elizabeth Avenue (Franklin) and Montgomery were on scene. Rescue squads from neighboring towns responded, as well as St. Hubert’s Animal Shelter. Also responding were Hillsborough Bureau of Fire Safety and the Somerset County Arson Task Force.