The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office has identified the second victim killed in the fatal Hoboken fire at 38 Jackson St. last month, about a month after a GoFundMe page revealed his identity.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
The second fire victim found at 38 Jackson Street in Hoboken on December 20th has been identified as Alexander von Schlinke, 61.
The victim’s identity is being released after members of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Regional Arson Task Force worked diligently to locate and notify the victim’s next of kin.
A GoFundMe page set up for the two victims identified von Schlinke as the partner of Rose Maria Vos.
On Monday, December 20th, at approximately 12:20 a.m., an on-duty Hoboken police officer heard a loud explosion in the area of Jackson Street. First responders arriving at the scene found an active fire in a warehouse located at 38 Jackson St.
The Hoboken Fire Department responded and was assisted in extinguishing the fire by the Jersey City Fire Department and North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue. Several surrounding buildings sustained fire and water damage.
During fire suppression activities, firefighters found two fire victims in the warehouse. Vos and von Schlinke were both pronounced dead at the scene. The cause and manner of death are pending the findings of the Regional Medical Examiner’s Office.
A preliminary investigation by the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Regional Arson Task Force and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives determined the origin of the fire to be in the rear of the first floor at Glass & Vapor House LLC and the cause has been ruled an accident.
Investigators believe the presence of flammable material within that business likely contributed to the fire.
The Regional Arson Task Force continues to investigate this incident with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the New Jersey State Fire Marshal, the Hoboken Fire Department, and Hoboken Police Department.
I remember Alexander worked at HD paint department. Extremely helpful cordial.