The mayor of a New Jersey town has spoken of his shock and grief at the death of three young children in a house fire on Friday morning.
Mayor Brian Stack of Union City made the comments as it was revealed a third child has now died following the fire that earlier claimed the lives of two youngsters and injured several other occupants and firefighters.
Officials said earlier that Friday morning’s fire at a three-story home killed a two-year-old boy and a five-year-old girl.
The Hudson County prosecutor’s office said Friday night that a critically injured seven-year-old boy had died.
Cousins two-year-old Jason Gonzalez and and five-year-old Mailyn Wood died in the fire
Firefighters continue works after extinguishing the fire that broke out at a residential building in Union City, New Jersey, United States on Friday July 13, 2018
At least three children lost their lives and 12 were injured in the incident
Mayor Brian Stack of Union City, New Jersay has spoken of his shock and grief at the death of three young children in a house fire on Friday morning
The two- and five-year-old children were cousins identified as Mailyn Wood, 5, and Jason Gonzalez, 2.
Prosecutor Esther Suarez says two other children and a woman are in critical condition. A man is listed in stable condition.
The blaze was reported shortly before 9 a.m. and first responders found that there were victims trapped in the three-story home.
Witnesses saw firefighters pull limp children from windows and take them down a ladder before performing CPR on the sidewalk.
Eight firefighters were treated at hospitals, mostly for smoke inhalation or heat-related issues.
About 30 people from eight families were displaced by the fire and were receiving help from the American Red Cross.
Two other kids and a woman are in critical condition while a man is stable
Police are not sure exactly how the fire started but are looking for witnesses. . The fire at the multifamily home started shortly before 9 a.m. Friday
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Mayor Brian Stack said he was devastated by the tragedy.
‘My heart is broken,’ Stack said at the scene. ‘It’s a very tough day for Union City.’
Neighbor Elio Hernandez said he had spoken earlier in the morning with the mother of one of the children killed in the blaze.
‘I said, ‘You’re up early,’ and she said she was running out to get milk for her children since they’re on summer vacation,’ he said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact 201-915-1345 or leave an anonymous tip on the HCPO website. All information will be kept confidential.
It quickly consumed the home, sending flames and smoke shooting high into the sky. It was brought under control about 30 minutes later
Eight firefighters were treated at hospitals, mostly for smoke inhalation or heat-related issues.