By Andrew Martins, Managing Editor
Nearly five weeks after a house fire on Coleman Lane claimed the life of an 85 year-old woman, investigators are still unsure as to what started the blaze.
Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office spokesperson Casey DeBlasio said investigators have been studying the circumstances surrounding the Sept. 2 fire, but have so far come up empty-handed.
“At this time, the cause of the fire is still undetermined, however there are no indications of foul play,” she said. “(The fire) remains under investigation.”
According to official accounts of that evening, police officers William Gaskell, Vincent Amiable and James Klesney responded to the residence after receiving a report from an alarm monitoring service just after 10 p.m.
Once there, the officers said they were faced with fire and heavy smoke that filled the house located in the back of the property. They attempted to enter by forcing a first level door open, but conditions kept them from going inside.
When firefighters arrived they entered the house, they found Patricia Gennett on the first floor. She was removed by firefighters but was deceased, police said.
The house suffered fire damage, as well as heat, smoke and water damage throughout as a result of the blaze. It was left uninhabitable.
Members of the Hopewell Township Police Department, Hopewell Valley Emergency Services, the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office and the Mercer County Fire Marshal’s Office have contributed to the investigation.
