A devastating house fire in Newark late Saturday night resulted in the tragic loss of two young girls, leaving the community in shock. The fire, which broke out on Eckert Avenue shortly after midnight, was met with immediate response from local firefighters. Upon arrival, they discovered the victims, aged six and eight, severely burned and unresponsive. Despite the heroic efforts of first responders, the girls were pronounced dead at the scene.
The incident was captured on video, showing emergency crews carrying a stretcher away from the residence. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was present at the scene, offering support to the firefighters, one of whom was visibly distressed by the tragic event.
The fire reportedly started during an indoor birthday celebration. Authorities suggest that the girls had been playing with fire near a couch in a hallway, which led to the catastrophic blaze. A neighbor, Dalisa Anthony, had previously expressed concerns about overcrowding in the two-story home and had attempted to report these concerns to city officials, but to no avail.
A woman, believed to be the mother of one or both of the victims, returned to the scene in a state of distress, searching for her children amid the chaos. The community, including neighbor Shonda Simpson, expressed their deep sorrow over the premature loss of the two young lives. Another neighbor recounted her attempts to help the victims, describing the scene as both “painful” and “shocking.”
The tragedy has deeply affected the local education community. Superintendent Roger León of Newark Public Schools confirmed that the girls were students within the district. León expressed his profound sorrow and extended his condolences to the grieving families, assuring them that counseling services would be made available for affected students and staff.
The Red Cross is currently assisting over a dozen people who were displaced by the fire and plans to extend support to additional families impacted by this tragedy. Investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing.