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Wife Dead, Husband Injured in N.J. Blaze

By  LYNN BERRY

Updated 5:41 AM EDT, Thu, Nov 20, 2008

Related Topics: Woodbury | Fires

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One person is dead after an overnight house fire in Woodbury, N.J. and another is in critical condition, firefighters said.

 

One person is dead after an overnight house fire in Woodbury, N.J. and another is in serious condition, firefighters said. 

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The fire started in the 100 block of Delaware Street around 1a.m.

Wife Dies, Husband Hurt in N.J. Fire

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Nancy and Lawrence were renovating their Woodbury, N.J. home. It caught fire. Nancy died; her husband and two firefighters were hurt.

54-year-old Nancy Johnson-Epple was found dead in the bedroom of her Victorian home.  She died of smoke and soot inhalation, the Gloucester County Medical Examiner's Office said. 

Her husband, 55-year-old pediatrician Lawrence Epple, was injured in a fall from a second floor window, Gloucester County police said.  

The fire started in the 100 block of Delaware Street around 1am and burned for hours.  It was an electrical fire caused by many interconnected extension cords in the home, the Prosecutor's Office said.  The house was in the process of being renovated.

There were no smoke detectors in the home, investigators said.

Firefighters attempted to enter the burning house through the front door, but it was blocked by debris, city police department officials said.   Once firefighters were able to make it inside, they found the unidentified victim's body.

Woodbury police officers also responded to the scene and tried using a ladder to reach a second floor window to rescue the husband. The ladder didn't reach the window and both the officer and husband fell to the ground during the attempted rescue, according to the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office. 

Comments (15)

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  • The Rogers Family Thursday, Nov 20 at 6:06 AM FLAG COMMENT Our family was devasted to hear the news, words cannot express our feelings. There is no other like Dr. Epple he is like a member of our family. He has been our childrens pediatrician for 10 years. He is very specail to us. We will do anything that we can to be there for him as he has been for us so many times. Our thoughts and prayers are with him & his family or his recovery physically & emotionally.
  • AGuardianAngel Thursday, Nov 20 at 5:32 AM FLAG COMMENT ANGELS sent with his wife, and the love to the people that he eventually called his family...
  • Martin Wednesday, Nov 19 at 11:33 PM FLAG COMMENT We are so grieved to hear of this tradgedy. We love you and will be praying for you Dr. Epple, Patrick, Petey, Bengamin, and Christopher
  • Simcox Family Wednesday, Nov 19 at 10:50 PM FLAG COMMENT God Bless You! I wish we could help you with your loss. You have been a special part of our families memories. We will pray for you!!!!
  • Anonymous Wednesday, Nov 19 at 10:44 PM FLAG COMMENT Our family is incredibly sad at the news of this tragedy. Words cannot express how we feel right now. Dr Epple is not just an extraordinary doctor, he is also a truly fine man. He has always taken great care of not just our daughter, but her parents as well by reassuring us when we needed it the most. I hope that in some small way that we can return the favor. Im sure that every life he has touched will now be there for him wh ... MORE >

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