Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens, II, and East Orange Police Chief Phyllis Bindi announced today that the victim of the fire on Friday, July 22 has been identified as Cherry Davis, 69, of East Orange.
The three-alarm fire broke out at approximately 12:30 am on Friday, July 22 in an apartment located on the 100 block of Prospect Street in East Orange. The victim was pronounced dead at 10:01 am at University Hospital in Newark.
Firefighters were able to rescue many residents from the apartment building, but Davis was trapped in her apartment.
The preliminary investigation indicates the fire may have been started when a vehicle near the building caught fire.
The investigation, which is being handled by the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office and the East Orange Police and Fire, is active and ongoing. No other information is available at this time.
