Flames ripped through a Rahway home without working smoke detectors, killing a boy and sending four others to the hospital Sunday, according to authorities.

Fire officials believe a candle started the deadly fire on the second-floor of the one-family house. Firefighters rushed to the scene around 5 a.m. where they rescued an unconscious 16-year-old girl and Alex Cortez. Cortez was later pronounced dead at the scene while the girl was taken to the hospital in serious condition. Authorities say an older adult and two other people with lesser burns were also transported to medical facilities.

Neighbors stood by grieving the boy and praying for others pulled from the fire. Robert Irvin fought back tears as he described watching firefighters pull his young neighbor from the house. Cortez?s friends remember playing football and basketball with him.

Authorities say the fire may have gone undetected for hours because the smoke detector did not have batteries. Firefighters gutted the home due to the heavy damage.