NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—On June 28, at approximately 12:44am, the New Brunswick Fire Department and city police responded to a fire at the home of Loretta Katko.

The home was under a heavy fire that led to extreme damage on both the first, and second floors of the home, located at 29 Stockton Road, in the Edgebrooke section of the city’s First Ward.

According to a press release published by the New Brunswick Police Department, “Upon their arrival heavy smoke was observed pushing out from the eaves of the structure.”

Katko was inside of her bedroom, and was found dead by the time firefighters made it inside.

Katko was 73 years old at her time of death, and her backstory is not clear because no obituary appears to have been published.

Following the fire, the building, which dates back to 1952, has been condemened by the New Jersey Uniform Code Office.

The structure is a one-family house that is currently assessed at a value of $229,400, including the land that it is on, according to property records.

According to the notice posted on the 1.5-story home, the building must be demolished, or the conditions must be improved no later than August 28.

New Brunswick Public Information Officer,  Jennifer Bradshaw, said the property is to remain under the name of deceased, and that condemnation came after the fire damage.

According to Bradshaw, as of July 10,”The cause of fire is still under investigation.”

City Hall, the NBPD, and the NBFD have not issued any follow-up statements revealing the cause of the blaze.