Woman, 73, Killed, Others Badly Injured In Old Bridge Chemical Fire

OLD BRIDGE, NJ — A 73-year-old woman was killed and four others injured, some severely, when a chemical explosion and fire occurred in an Old Bridge commercial building Wednesday.

The fire broke out shortly after 11 a.m. inside Superior Signal Company, which makes smoke generators and is located on West Greystone Road in Old Bridge.

The initial 911 call came in as a "loud explosion," said Old Bridge Police Sgt. Herbert Doctors.

Eileen Marco, 73, of South River, died in the fire, said the Middlesex County Prosecutor. She was pronounced dead at the scene. It is unknown where in the building she was, or the exact circumstances of how she died.

The cause of the explosion is not suspicious and police think it was an accident.

Four others were injured: Two were badly burned and taken by helicopter to St. Barnabas Medical Center burn unit. Two additional people suffered minor injuries and were transported to Robert Wood Johnson by ambulance.

The fire broke out at 11:21 a.m.: At that time, people reported hearing a "loud explosion" come from the commercial building across the street from Jonas Salk Middle School. Smoke could be seen pouring out of the commercial building that houses Superior Signal Company.

The fire prompted a shelter-in-place at nearby Jonas Salk Middle School, with all students and staff being told to remain inside. However, all students are safe and the school building is not affected, said police.

Traffic is also being diverted away from West Greystone Road and the area where the fire is.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Keith Weiss of the Old Bridge Police Department at 732-721-5600 or Detective Matthew Colonna of the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office at 732-745-3354.