1 dead, 2 critically injured in early morning Newark house fire
The cause of the fire is still under investigation according the the Essex County Prosecutor's office.
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An investigation is underway after a deadly fire tore through a home in Newark early Saturday morning, killing one person and leaving two others in critical condition, authorities said.
The fire broke out around 3 a.m. on Schley Street, quickly engulfing the upper floors of the residence.
Two men living on the first floor said they were awakened by loud noises above them, despite not knowing if anyone was living upstairs.
“I looked out the window and the whole block seemed orange and red, and I figured, oh, this is a fire. And I just ran to the back where all the other three rooms are, banging on the doors and just kept yelling, ‘Everybody get out, get out, get out!’ So we ran out,” said Frantz Lapoint.
The home was heavily charred, debris littered the property, and siding on a neighboring house had melted from the intense heat.
“I still got most of my stuff. Some stuff got destroyed. And, you know, I hope I can probably get something back. But no, I’m optimistic. At least I’m alive. I can breathe and see another day,” one first floor resident said.
Authorities have not released the identity of the victim, and the cause of the fire remains unknown.
