A third child has died from injuries sustained in a large house fire in Hudson County.
The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office says that a 7-year-old boy who has been hospitalized since he was injured in a Union City house fire succumbed to his injuries Friday night. Two other children, a 2-year-old boy and 5-year-old girl were pronounced dead at the scene.
Officials say that two other children and an adult woman are in critical condition. A man was listed in stable condition. Over a dozen firefighters were also treated for smoke inhalation and heat exhaustion.
The fire at the multifamily home on the 400 block of 25th Street in Union City started around 8:30 a.m. Friday. It quickly consumed the home and damaged a neighboring house, sending flames and smoke high into the sky. The fire was brought under control about 30 minutes later.
Neighbors tell News 12 New Jersey that some of the children were jumping from the third floor of the home to the second-floor landing. They say that the children were crying out for help after suffering burns to their faces and arms.
“One child’s face was burned. Two of them unconscious. They looked lifeless,” said Eddie Miranda.
Union City Mayor Brian Stack says that he was there as firefighters were pulling the victims out of the home and attempting to resuscitate on the street.
"The fire department did a tremendous job in rescuing and pulling children from the building. I saw them working on one or two children right on the sidewalk,” the mayor said.
It was not immediately known if there were working smoke detectors in the home.
The Hudson County Prosecutor, Union City Police Department, New Jersey Fire Marshall’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are investigating the fire.
The Associated Press wire services contributed to this report.