A devastating house fire in Paterson, New Jersey, claimed the lives of five family members — including three children — on Halloween night.
According to reports from ABC 7 New York, CBS News New York, and NJ.com, firefighters were called to the residence around 9:50 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 31, following reports of a blaze, the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed.
Video footage from the scene showed the home’s interior scaffolding exposed and a top-floor window dangling from its hinge after the fire ripped through the structure.
Paterson Fire Chief Alejandro Alicea said strong winds intensified the flames, spreading quickly to the second floor where the five victims were found — a 39-year-old man, a 38-year-old woman, and their children aged 14, 12, and 7.
The fire’s heat was so extreme that it melted the siding of a neighboring house.
“The city of Paterson is in mourning,” Mayor Andre Sayegh told reporters. “We grieve for the family of five that were lost. I’ve been the mayor for seven years and seen many painful moments, but this tragedy really hurts my heart.”
Speaking to the New York Post, Alicea said the cause of the blaze remains under investigation, though no evidence currently suggests foul play.
“It started on the first floor,” he explained. “When our first arriving unit got there, they reported heavy fire in the rear of the structure. It rapidly extended into the second floor due to the high winds.”
A fire captain and a firefighter were hospitalized for treatment following the incident, according to Alicea.
Neighbors told ABC 7 that residents living on the first floor attempted to rescue the family upstairs, but flames blocked the staircase. One neighbor tried to suppress the fire with a garden hose before emergency crews arrived.
“They were really good people, friendly. Every time I’d drive by, they would always wave,” neighbor John Miller told CBS News. “To hear about this, it’s unbelievable.”
The American Red Cross is assisting seven surviving residents — including a child with special needs — with temporary housing, food, and clothing.
“Our disaster volunteers were at the scene and assisted three people in two families with emergency lodging, food, clothing, and other immediate needs,” the Red Cross said in a statement to ABC 7. “We expect to provide additional assistance to four more people later today.”
Reflecting on the scale of the tragedy, Chief Alicea added, “Losing an entire family of five like this is the biggest loss we’ve seen in a long time. It’s not common to have so many deceased. It’s a tragedy.”
