 "Photo: William Schneekloth/Associate Photography Editor")
 "Photo: William Schneekloth/Associate Photography Editor")
A University student died Tuesday responding to a Franklin Township fire now ruled as non-suspicious.
Arson investigators determined the fire was caused by electrical wiring below the floorboards, before spreading to the first-floor of the one-family home at 36 Whittier Ave.
Livingston College Senior Kevin A. Apuzzio died Tuesday after responding to the blaze as a volunteer firefighter for the township. Resident Betty Scott, 75, also died from the fire.
Her husband, Bill Scott, escaped before the fire caused the first floor to cave in.
Somerset County Prosecutor Wayne J. Forrest said arson investigators determined the fire began in a concealed space between the basement ceiling tiles and the floor beneath the living room.
The area in question was between the front entrance and center hall area.
Officials found several branch circuits running through the area that showed severe fire-damage, with sections missing.
A recessed fluorescent light fixture there was also damaged, officials said.
With significant damage in both of these electrical devices, neither could be positively identified as the exact cause of the fire, officials said.
The four-alarm fire spread throughout the house after 6:15 a.m.
All five firefighters were transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick. Apuzzio, who also served as an EMT at the University, died at the hospital.
The University's EMTs came to the Franklin fire, and transported Apuzzio to RWJUH, said William Scott, deputy chief of Emergency Services at the University.
"Our crew, along with medics, tried to revive him," Scott said.
Among the four hospitalized firefighters was another student, University College junior Ryan Daughton, who is also a volunteer firefighter for the East Franklin Volunteer Fire Department Station 27. He entered RWJUH but was transported to St. Barnabas in stable condition for treatment of smoke inhalation and burns, officials said. Yesterday he was released.
Daughton serves as an Emergency Services Officer for the University, in a part-time job that inspects life safety equipment.
The Somerset County Prosecutor's Office Arson Task Force and the Franklin Township Police conducted the investigation before closing fire and criminal investigations yesterday afternoon.
Apuzzio's wake will be held from noon to 9 p.m. on Monday. The funeral will be held at 10:15 a.m. Tuesday, with fire department services.
Both the wake and the funeral will be held at St. Michaels Church, 1212 Kelly St. in Union. Apuzzio will be buried at Mt. Olive Cemetery in Newark.
Station 27 will attempt to arrange a shuttle or bus service from the New Brunswick area to and from Union for all fire department attendees and will post information on its Web site, www.station.27.com
Fire Departments wishing to attend should RSVP with the New Brunswick Fire Department at 732-745-5167.
Apuzzio's death was the first death in the line of duty in the 86-year history of Station 27.
The department will soon post information for individuals and organizations wishing to make donations in memory of Apuzzio.
The University community continued it's outpouring of grief for Apuzzio, who was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon, volunteer and employee for Emergency Services.
Flags at the University flew at half-staff in honor of Apuzzio.
"The thoughts and prayers of the entire Rutgers University community are with the Apuzzio family as we mourn the tragic loss of Livingston College student Kevin Apuzzio, a selfless young man who gave his life in the service of others," University President Richard L. McCormick said in a prepared statement.
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