Authorities have identified the woman who died in a fire at the Highland Plaza Apartments in Toms River on Friday night as Barbara Booker, 67, a resident of the apartment where the blaze occurred.

As Lakewood Alerts previously reported, Toms River Police and Fire Departments responded to the apartment complex on Highland Parkway at approximately 11:20 p.m. on October 23 after receiving reports of a structure fire. Upon arrival, firefighters observed smoke coming from a second-floor apartment. During a search of the residence, firefighters discovered Booker deceased inside the living room.

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that investigators determined the fire originated on a couch along the east wall of the living room. The blaze was ruled accidental, with careless smoking identified as the cause.

An autopsy conducted by the Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office on Saturday, October 24, confirmed that Booker died from smoke inhalation due to the fire. Her death was officially ruled accidental.

The investigation was conducted by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Arson Squad, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Toms River Police Department Detective Bureau, and Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention, with assistance from the Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office.