Neighbors heartbroken after fire kills 2 in Paterson

PATERSON, N.J. (PIX11) – A three-alarm fire in Paterson left two people dead and over a dozen people without a place to sleep Friday night.

“All you heard was people screaming, knocking outside on the doors for people to come out,” said Ricky Martinez. “I never seen them make it out.”

The fire broke out at 71 North Seventh St. around 2:30 a.m. and quickly engulfed three buildings, officials said.

Neighbors told PIX11 News members of the same family lived in the two-family home. Authorities say it could take weeks or even longer to determine the cause of the fire.

“We had a rescue team going because first, the one woman was unaccounted for when we had confirmed the first fatality, and the structure had collapsed, and we unfortunate could not save her,” Mayor Andre Sayegh said.

A 69-year-old and a 20-year-old managed to escape the flames.

“I even got some slippers and gave it to the young guy and blankets and stuff like that,” said Martinez.

Nilda Gonzalez says the family had been living there for 15 years.

“Terrible, God, that’s my neighbor – long time,” said Gonzalez.

Two adjacent houses were also burned, leaving 17 people displaced, including two children.

“We also have two occupants from a nearby structure that went to the hospital for smoke inhalation,” Paterson Fire Chief Alex Alicea said.

A firefighter was also injured. All three of them are expected to be OK.

Despite this tragedy, Mayor Sayegh said the number of fires in the city has decreased by more than 40% over the year. He says a campaign with the Red Cross installing free fire alarms has been a big reason behind the reduction.

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