An eight-month old baby and an 11-year-old child were both killed in a Jersey City apartment fire late last night, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed early this morning.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“The Hudson County Regional Arson Task Force is investigating a fatal fire that occurred last night at 470 MLK Drive just after 11:30 pm in which an 11-year-old child and an 8-month-old child died. More info to follow,” the HCPO tweeted at 6:16 a.m. this morning.
At 9:52 a.m., Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez released more information.
Upon arrival, firefighters encountered a working fire with heavy fire and smoke conditions that was confined to a single apartment. Firefighters gained access to the apartment and located two children, an 11-year-old girl and an 8-month-old boy, Suarez said in a statement.
The 11-year-old girl was pronounced deceased at the scene and her 8-month-old brother was transported to the Jersey City Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased at 12:24 a.m. The fire was reported under control at 12:07 a.m.
One adult woman, the mother of the children, as well as a 6-year-old boy, were able to evacuate the fire unit before firefighters arrived.
The origin and cause of the fire remain under investigation, where the Jersey City Fire Department is aiding the county’s arson take force.
The cause and manner of death are pending with the Regional Medical Examiner.
This was not the only tragedy to strike Jersey City last night, as a shooting on Old Bergen Road left one victim dead and two others in critical condition, as HCV first reported.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with new information.
