PLUMSTED TOWNSHIP, NJ – A fatal fire occurred in a mobile home on Lakewood Road, Plumsted Township, on November 1, at about 10:00 a.m., resulting in one casualty and one injury.
Emergency responders arrived to find the mobile home engulfed in smoke. Paul Hakos, 79, the homeowner, was outside the residence when crews arrived and was subsequently transported to CentraState Medical Center in Freehold, where he is reported to be in stable condition. Catherine Hakos, 63, was discovered by firefighters in the back bedroom of the home and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office-Arson Squad, together with local fire and police departments, determined the fire started underneath the structure. The investigation has concluded that it was accidental, likely due to a failure in electrical equipment.