2 sisters dead, multiple buildings burned in Millville, New Jersey fire, officials say
Two sisters are dead and multiple buildings are damaged after a fire overnight in Millville, New Jersey, officials said Thursday. Family members identified the two sisters as 13-year-old Valery Mariana Cardona Gómez and 11-year-old Gissel Samanta Cardona Gómez.
The fire broke out on 4th Street around 11 p.m. and spread to four buildings, including two duplexes. A total of six dwellings were impacted by the flames, Millville Fire Chief John Wettstein said.
The first and second floors of one building collapsed, which damaged natural gas lines in the area, and the fire then became a gas-fed fire.
"We had issues with water supply; they used all the water they had in their tanks, 1,000 gallons in the engine, 300 gallons in the tower, and then we had a fire hydrant issue," Wettstein said.
Firefighters had to lay over 1,000 feet of supply lines to two other hydrants to get enough water, Wettstein said.
Resident describes rushing out of burning home
A resident of one of the duplexes that burned down, a mother of three, said she at first thought the fire was a dream.
"I heard someone, like, banging and yelling, like, 'get out, there's a fire,'" the resident said. "I was sleeping, so I thought it was a dream, maybe. But then my boyfriend came in the room and he was like, 'Get up, it's a fire, we have to get out.' And so I knew it was real."
The woman had to scoop up her three children who were home and quickly exit the building.
"I lost everything," she said. "My baby didn't even have a bottle last night, I didn't have anything ... no diapers, no wipes. ... I just had blankets that I covered her with to get out the house."
There wasn't time to get her daughter's shoes either, she said.
"They just had their coats and their clothes. That's all we have is just what's on our back. We don't have anything, everything is destroyed."
An online fundraiser is being set up to help victims of the Millville fire recover.
A total of 23 people were displaced between the six residences. The American Red Cross has provided emergency financial assistance to three families and services are available to those affected, a spokesperson said.
After sunrise, firefighters were putting out hot spots. Millville Mayor Benjamin Romanik said the fire is under investigation by the state fire marshal.
The fire was so hot that it caused melting damage to the front end of a fire engine.
