2 children dead after fire that destroyed a half-dozen homes in Millville, New Jersey
MILLVILLE, N.J. (WPVI) -- Two children have been found dead after a massive fire burned through several homes in Millville, New Jersey.
Action News spoke to a family member who said the children are his nieces, Valery and Sammy. They were 9 and 13 years old.
Rubble continued to smolder Thursday afternoon, hours after a fire nearly destroyed the entire 300 block of South 4th Street in Millville.
Flames spread to a total of six homes, displacing 23 people. It broke out at around 11 p.m. on Wednesday.
Drone 6 was above the spot where the fire burned two duplexes down to the foundation and badly damaged two single-family homes.
"Everything's burned to the ground. We have nothing. My daughter has no shoes on her feet. My son has no coat. We have nothing," said Iteaia Broughton of Millville.
Nearly two dozen people are facing the same reality after narrowly escaping the fast-moving fire.
Action News has been told that a gas line ruptured, which fed the fire and made it more intense, allowing the flames to jump from house to house.
"During the collapse, part of the building falls and severs the gas line, which then allows the gas to escape out of the house and then it catches fire, which then becomes a gas-fed fire," said Millville Fire Chief John Wettstein.
Broughton, a mother of three, described how it all happened so quickly.
"I just put my baby on my shoulder and went outside and I grabbed my son. I don't know what happened," Broughton recalled.
Another issue is that a hydrant on the block broke as firefighters tried to connect hoses.
The chief said they had to run 800 feet of hose to the nearest hydrant after the trucks ran out of water.
One resident says he watched his home burn down as crews scrambled to get access to water.
Mayor Benjamin Romanik says the hydrant issue will be investigated.
There is no word yet on the cause of this fire, though officials said there are no signs yet that it's suspicious.
An adult was injured in the fire and is expected to be okay. That person is described as a family member of the children.
As community members mourn this tragic loss, they also say it's crucial to help their neighbor.
"Everybody got together. There's something amazing that no matter what color you are, what religion, what language you speak, they got together," said Arcelia Vivar Espinoza.
The community quickly jumped into action to help the victims of the massive fire.
Donations were dropped off at several businesses, including the Phenom Factory.
There are also donations of food and water.
The facility says its sorting through everything and will provide an updated list of what's needed later Friday morning.
