Child killed, 5 injured in devastating building fire in Perth Amboy, N.J.

A devastating fire caused the death of an 11-year-old boy and left two of his family members in critical condition Friday in New Jersey, officials said. 

Ring camera video shows Perth Amboy firefighters at the building on Chauncey Street, where the deadly fire broke out just after 2:30 a.m.

"I seen smoke billowing out of the building," neighbor Charles Stillwagon said. 

Fire Chief Ed Mullen was in tears when he described how the boy was pulled from a unit on the second floor, even though firefighters were able to get the flames under control quickly. 

"They had heavy fire conditions on the second floor, with heavy smoke on the second and third floor. So they were searching in zero-visibility conditions while they were extinguishing the fire," he said. 

Devon Quinones, a neighbor, said his 11-year-old child was friends with the boy. 

"It's very sad," Quinones said. "They play basketball, they'll play soccer, and usually they'll be on their little bikes riding around, whether it's the e-bikes, whatever." 

Mullen said more than 20 people were able to make it out of the building without any injuries, but an adult male and teenage boy suffered severe burns. 

"Two of the severely burned patients were transported to a local [helicopter] landing zone, where they were taken to a local burn center," Police Chief Larry Cattano said. 

Mayor Helmin Caba called the fire "a devastating loss for a family and for our community," and said the American Red Cross was helping all of the victims. 

"I have to thank our first responders. Our first responders, our mutual aid partners, they arrived at the scene, they were able to rescue the majority of the people in there. We're talking about 26 people. So they did a phenomenal job," Caba said. 

One firefighter and a police officer suffered minor injuries, the mayor added.

The cause of the fire was under investigation by police, firefighters and the Middlesex Prosecutor's Office.