By Kevin Coughlin
The death of Kelly Smith, 31, in this week’s Pine Street fire was an “accident,” the Morris County medical examiner has ruled.
Prosecutor Fredric Knapp, in a statement on Wednesday, said the fire’s cause does not appear suspicious and no criminal charges are anticipated.
Smith “expired during the course of the fire,” Knapp said. “The Morris County Medical Examiner’s Office has determined the manner of death as an accident.”
Update: The medical examiner describes manner of death with terms such as “accidental,” “natural,” “undetermined,” “suicide” or “homicide,” the Prosecutor’s Office explained.
The fire, reported at 11:29 pm on Monday, July 13, 2015, and extinguished early on July 14, started in the lower level of the three-story house at 15 Pine St. in Morristown, according to the Prosecutor.
Update: Smith was in the top floor of the house, the Prosecutor’s Office confirmed. How the fire started remains under investigation.
Knapp said the place had approximately five apartments with about 11 residents.
A business, Shear Bliss, was about to relocate its hair salon to a vacant storefront on the ground floor.
The Prosecutor thanked Morristown Police Chief Pete Demnitz, the Morristown police, the Morristown Fire Department, the Morris County Sheriff’s Office, the Morris County Fire Marshall, the Morris County Office of Emergency Management, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Arson and Major Crimes Units, and other emergency responders for their help.
