A devastating house fire in Stafford Township, New Jersey, claimed the life of 92-year-old Betty Matero and inflicted injuries on two others. NBC Philadelphia reports that the fire, which occurred on February 13, began in the early hours, around 1:20 a.m., and the inferno appears to have been caused by a lithium-ion battery failure.
While two individuals managed to escape the Yeoman Road residence, they needed hospital treatment and are now in stable condition, according to authorities. Unfortunately, Matero was not able to flee the engulfing flames and succumbed to the incident. The fire reportedly originated in an outdoor storage area of the home. The preliminary investigation led by the local police suggested that malfunctioning lithium-ion batteries were a likely source of the blaze.
In the wake of the tragedy, a joint inquiry was conducted by several agencies, including the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Arson Squad and the Stafford Township Fire Prevention Bureau. Jersey Shore Online notes that the blaze has been classified as accidental. The investigation team pinpointed the fire's origin to the southeast exterior wall of the house, inside an outdoor storage container.
Following an autopsy carried out by the Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office on the same day as the fire, it was confirmed that Matero's death was due to smoke inhalation and was deemed accidental. As noted by News 12 Long Island, the two survivors were initially listed in critical condition upon their arrival at Philadelphia hospitals, where they were treated for their injuries.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer acknowledged the concerted efforts of the multiple departments that worked together seamlessly to tackle the emergency and carry out the ensuing investigation. The event shines a light on the potential hazards associated with lithium-ion batteries and underscores the importance of safety measures when using and storing such devices.
