Family of three killed in early-morning house fire in Monroe, sources tell CBS2

State fire investigators have joined the probe into a tragic house fire in Orange County. 

First responders found a woman, her husband and their child dead inside their home. 

The fire was reported just after midnight on Highland Avenue in the town of Monroe. 

Neighbors are devastated by the shock of seeing a home gutted by fire and the pain of learning the family inside did not escape.

State fire investigators walked through the charred ruins, working to determine the cause and origin of the fire. 

Flames billowed out of the two-story home after midnight. 

Volunteer firefighters began pulling hoses to extinguish the blaze.

The flames were so fierce first responders could not immediately enter to search for residnts. 

"Without the fire being knocked down a little bit, you can't make entry. We knocked it down pretty quick, within 15 minutes," said Jonathan Dolch of the Monroe Joint Fire District. 

The Lopez family lives directly behind the home. Roxanna Lopez called 911 after hearing a loud boom. 

"It was only a little flame when it started, and then in a matter of seconds, by the time I got outside my house, it was already all over the porch. It was really bad," she said. 

Sources identify the victims as Sarah and Kalman Goldstein and their little girl Miriam. 

The family moved up from the city not long ago and was active with the Chabad of Orange County. 

Rabbi Meir Borenstein says the sadness is profound. 

"Terrible tragedy. Terrible tragedy for the community, a young, beautiful family," Borenstein said. "It's a tragedy, but we have to heal together and love each other." 

One neighbor says seeing the house gutted by deadly fire will stay with her forever. 

"I just felt so bad for the people. I can't even explain. I've never seen anything like that," Lucette Miles said. 

A sources told CBS2's Tony Aiello it appears the family was trying to escape the fire but could not reach safety. 

Their funerals were held Thursday afternoon in Brooklyn, in keeping with Jewish tradition.

CBS2's Tony Aiello was on the scene Thursday morning, where the neighbors were devastated after the shock of watching fire gut a home and the pain of learning the family inside did not escape.

Orange County fire investigator and Town of Monroe Police worked inside the fire-gutted home to document the scene. Pale smoke continued to rise into the winter sky.

Video taken shortly after midnight showed flames billowing out of the two-story home. Volunteer firefighters began pulling hoses to extinguish the blaze. 

Roxanna Lopez, who lives directly behind, called 911 after hearing a loud boom.

"It was just only a little flame that had started. And then in a matter of seconds, by the time I got outside my house, it was already all over the porch, and it was really bad," she told Aiello. 

So bad, rescuers were delayed entering the home. Neighbors told first responders a family of three lived there and may have been trapped. 

"I just felt so bad for the people. I can't even explain. I've never seen anything like that," said neighbor Lucette Miles. 

The fire melted the siding on a neighboring home, and blew a transformer. Power repairs were made in the morning.

Investigators are working to determine the cause and origin of the fire. Police say they're working to provide the names of the victims. 

Monroe Police described a harrowing scene. 

They say officers arrived at 44 Highland Avenue at around 12:55 a.m. to find the house fully engulfed in flames. 

Neighbors told the responding officers the residents may still be inside, but police say the fire was so intense that the officers couldn't get inside. 

Responding firefighters from Monroe and other neighboring districts started battling the blaze. 

Sadly, three victims were found dead in the home. The names of the victims have not been released. 

The investigation is continuing. 

Anyone with information is asked to call the Monroe Police Department at (845) 782-8644.