A house fire that killed an 83-year-old woman during Tuesday's storm was likely sparked by an unattended candle lit during a power outage in her Waldwick neighborhood, authorities said.
Valentina Turley died in the blaze that was reported around 6:40 p.m. on Van Court, according to a statement from borough police. A preliminary investigation by local police and the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office pointed to the candle.
Turley's home was severely damaged in the three-alarm fire, which took about 90 minutes to bring under control, officials said. Responders arrived to find the residence already largely consumed by flames, and quickly called-in more firefighters and emergency medical crews from nearby towns.