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N.J. neighbors say woman may have had 30 cats in house torched in fatal fire after eviction notice

The woman had threatened to blow up the home in Roosevelt after she was served an eviction notice, state police said.
Multiple fire departments rushed to the scene in Roosevelt, N.J., on Wednesday to put out the flames.
Multiple fire departments rushed to the scene in Roosevelt, N.J., on Wednesday to put out the flames. NBC New York

A New Jersey woman who was being evicted died in a fire at her home after she threatened to blow it up, police said.

The woman was served an eviction notice at her home on Cedar Court in Roosevelt, about 20 miles from Trenton, but refused to leave, New Jersey State Police said.

Just after 11 a.m. Wednesday, state troopers were called to the home for a report of smoke. Shortly after they arrived, the home went up in flames.

The woman, who has not been publicly identified, died, Sgt. Philip Curry said. He said the cause of the fire is being investigated.

Curry said authorities believe animals were killed in the fire but did not know how many. NBC New York reported that the woman took care of cats for other people. Neighbors said she may have had as many as 30 in her home.

The state's animal control office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday.

Police said no one else was at the home with the woman. Three firefighters sustained minor injuries.