Tragedy struck in Newark, N.J., on Sunday, Oct. 20, as a fire claimed the lives of two young girls, aged 6 and 8, as reported by the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.
A birthday celebration for one of the two girls who passed away was taking place outside, but as the temperature dropped, the festivities were relocated indoors, according to another child who spoke with the New York Daily News.
At approximately 12:30 a.m. local time, the two girls were reportedly “playing with fire near a couch in the hallway” on the second floor, according to the ECPO press release.
The blaze engulfed the residence, shattering the windows on the second and third stories.
Officials reported that the two children were discovered unresponsive and suffering from severe burns. The young girls were sadly pronounced dead at the scene despite the efforts of first responders to resuscitate them. The identities of the girls remain undisclosed to the public.
“The firefighters were visibly shaken up,” Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said, reported the Daily News. “Two children dead in a fire is a horrible experience. You could feel that in the air.”
Fifteen individuals from seven distinct families received treatment for burn injuries. The adjacent home suffered significant damage as well. The cause of the fire remains undetermined, and the investigation is still in progress.
Dalisa Anthony, a neighbor, expressed her worries to WABC-TV about the high number of individuals residing on the second floor, noting that at least 10 people were living there.
She mentioned that she reached out to the mayor’s office and code enforcement multiple times, but either “the call was dropped” or “no one ever showed up.”
Multiple residents reported that the house was filled beyond capacity. Linwood Duncan, a resident on the third floor, informed that there are “at least 20 people” residing on the second floor and mentioned that he had previously raised concerns with the rental company.
The city of Newark reported that there have been no formal complaints lodged regarding the residence or its landlord.
“The only calls we’ve ever gotten from that property were garbage and debris calls,” Mayor Baraka said, per ABC 7.