MONMOUTH COUNTY, N.J. – According to authorities, a woman in New Jersey who lived with dozens of cats refused to leave her home after being served with an eviction notice.
Police attempted to remove the woman from her home in Roosevelt, Monmouth County, but she threatened to blow up the house on Cedar Court, and shortly after, smoke was seen coming from the residence before it was completely engulfed in flames.
The woman is believed to have caused the fire by turning on the gas and igniting it with a match. Despite efforts by multiple fire departments, the woman did not survive the incident.
The fire is suspected to have resulted from natural gas.
Neighbors reported that the woman had lived in the house for several years and cared for numerous pets.
They told local media that there may have been as many as 30 cats living with her at the time of the blast.
Animal control searched the scene for any escaped cats but had not found any as of Wednesday afternoon.
Reports say that the owner had sought to evict the woman to sell the property.
