Byram man dies after starting fire in home during eviction, police said

A Byram man died after starting a fire in his home as officials came to evict him Wednesday morning, Byram Township Police said.

At about 10:29 a.m. Wednesday, Byram Police and Fire Departments and the Lakeland Emergency Squad responded to a report of a working structure fire at 179 Glenside Trail in the Lake Mohawk section of Byram Township, police said.

The fire was reported by Sussex County Sheriff's Officers who were at the residence to perform a court ordered eviction, police said.

The Sheriff's Officers said they knocked on the front, side, and rear doors when they noticed smoke escaping from the home, police said.

They immediately notified Byram dispatchers of the fire and attempted to force entry into the residence to check for occupants, police said.

They were unable to enter the residence due to extreme clutter inside the house that prevented the doors from being forced open and the severity of the fire, police said.

Byram Police were also unable to force their way into the structure upon their arrival.

The Byram Fire Department arrived and with the assistance of additional fire departments were able to bring the fire under control and enter the residence, police said.

Firefighters then found Matthew J. Smith, 55, deceased inside the residence.

Arson investigators from Byram Police and the Sussex County Prosecutor's Office determined Smith intentionally set the fire in multiple locations within the house.

Byram Township authorities were assisted by the Sparta Police Department, Sussex County Prosecutor's Office, NJ State Police crime scene unit, Sussex County and State fire marshal's Office along with fire departments from Stanhope, Sparta, Jefferson, Andover Township and Andover Borough.