The Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office has revealed the likely cause and origin of the fire that may have killed a 79-year-old Long Branch woman early Monday morning.

Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office Public Information Officer Charlie Webster said the investigative team "conducted a thorough examination of the structure (at 11 Howland Ave.) and identified the area of origin as the rear bedroom."

Webster said investigators could not eliminate the improper disposal of smoking and/or lighting materials as the cause of the fire.

He added that the preliminary investigation did not reveal any evidence of foul play and that the fire does not appear to be suspicious.

The woman's ID has not yet been released and her cause of death is also not available at this time. Authorities are waiting to release her name after her next of kin is notified.