A preliminary investigation shows a fatal Hoboken fire that claimed two lives started in a CMB smoke and vape shop, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez announced.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
The investigation, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Regional Arson Task Force and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, revealed the fire began in the rear of the building at Glass & Vapor House LLC and the cause has been ruled an accident, Suarez said in a statement.
Investigators believe the presence of flammable material within that business likely contributed to the fire.
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 Street.
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. Additionally, several surrounding buildings sustained fire and water damage.
During fire suppression activities, firefighters found two fire victims in the warehouse. Rose Marie Vos, 60, and a 61-year-old individual were both pronounced dead at the scene. The release of the second victim’s name is pending notification of next of kin.
However, a GoFundMe page for Vos has identified the second victim as her husband Alex. Furthermore, the Hoboken Relief Fund has been reestablished to help the businesses that have been impacted.
The cause and manner of death are pending the findings of the Regional Medical Examiner’s Office.
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.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office at 201-915-1345 or leave an anonymous tip on the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office official website at https://www.hudsoncountyprosecutorsofficenj.org/homicide-tip/.
All information will be kept confidential.
Hoboken shortly before the fire, approved a redevelopment plan that calls for turning the building facing the Southwest Park into luxury housing and the part facing Jersey City a grocery store and more high rise luxury apartments