Veteran, 78, Identified As Victim In Fatal Sparta House Fire

SPARTA, NJ — Sparta Police have identified the person who died in a house fire Thursday morning as a 78-year-old man.

Officials said township resident Wayne Pait perished in the fire, which broke out shortly before 8:30 a.m. at a residence on Sawmill Road. According to a GoFundMe that has been established for Pait's family, he served in Vietnam and was a decades-long resident of Sparta.

Detectives and the Sussex County Prosecutor's Office have initially ruled the fire as accidental after their preliminary investigation, and said there was no indication of any suspicious activity.

Police said that an LED flashlight, which was accidentally left on overnight, may have been the cause of the fire.

"The heat from the flashlight is believed to have ignited a small rug, leading the fire to spread to the rest of the room’s furnishings while Mr. Pait was asleep," said Captain Thomas Snyder of Sparta PD. "While investigators consider the heat from the LED flashlight a potential ignition source, they are unable to conclusively determine the exact cause of the fire at this time."

First responders were able to rescue three people from the home, police said — identified in the GoFundMe as Pait's wife and sons, who were trying to get him out as well.

"The family not only lost their beloved father and husband but also their home and all their possessions," said the fundraiser's organizer. "In this unimaginable time, we are asking for help to support the Pait family as they navigate this overwhelming loss."

More than $11,000 has been raised for the Pait family as of noon on Friday.

Police advise residents to be aware of any potential fire hazards in their homes, and said the community mourns this loss.