Newark fire claims life of 9-year-old girl, two other children hospitalized
The fire damaged the inside of a multifamily home, with smoke and flames engulfing the second floor.
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A 9-year-old girl was killed and two other children hospitalized after a fire ripped through a home in Newark on Aster Street.
Eight children were in the home at the time of the fire, according to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office. News 12 spoke to a hero who rushed in to save them.
The owner of the bodega on the corner says the girl's brother was first to run out of the multi-family home, calling for help before 2 a.m. on Wednesday.
"He said he was running for help, and he didn't nowhere to go." said Christopher Evans who owns the Lachiquita Supermarket on the corner of Aster Street. "We just went in behind him and just do the best we can."
Evans happened to be near the store after hours fixing an issue with his car. When he saw smoke, he immediately called police.
After learning that kids were inside the three-story home, Evans says he and another man jumped into action. "When we saw that little boys face, we couldn't not go in there."
He says they helped multiple children and several adults out of the multi-family home, before learning that a 9-year-old girl was trapped in her room. “We tried to open the door, it wasn't opening. We were kicking it and kicking it,” he said.
Evans says first responders arrived shortly after. The girl was taken to University Hospital where she was pronounced dead around 2 a.m.
"We got the rest of them out, it's just not being able to get his sister out was kind of hurtful because he kept asking us, go get her go get her. They come to the store every day," says Evans.
Police haven't released the identity of the 9-year-old girl.
"She would always come in, even if it was just to say hi, and when she would get an A on her report card she would say 'hey my report card,'" Evans said.
Another neighbor, Tina, shared that she knows the girl's mom.
"I know her and she's a good mom and she loves her kids, and we all stick together," she said.
