Fire In Perth Amboy Kills 2 Including 5-Year-Old Boy
PERTH AMBOY, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Authorities say a man and a young boy died when a fast-moving fire roared through a New Jersey home.
Perth Amboy officials say 10 others who lived in the two-story home -- including three children -- were injured in the blaze that broke out around 3 a.m. Friday. Two firefighters also were treated at a hospital for burns.
Emergency responders found a woman screaming that her child was trapped inside. Crews tried to make it inside, but by that time the building was fully involved.
"They made it into the building to the point where the fire flashed over on them," said Perth Amboy Fire Chief Edward Mullen. "That means floor to ceiling fire involvement."
Joanne Rascoe lives down the street and said the smoke filled the entire area. It was so bad that she couldn't even stand outside.
"It's sad," she told CBS2's Marc Liverman. "I don't know why it happened. It was shooting from everywhere."
Authorities identified the child as 5-year-old Rhyan Jumelle. The name of the deceased man hasn't been released, and it's not known if the two were related.
"Just because of the unsafeness of that structure it has to come down," said Perth Amboy Deputy Chief Larry Cattano. "So that'll be an excavator taking it down piece by piece with the care for the investigation as well as the search."
Other residents who escaped the blaze, including children, were taken to hospitals to be checked out, 1010 WINS' Sonia Rincon reported. Officials say at least two firefighters were treated for minor burns.
Investigators are still looking into whether there were smoke detectors inside the home.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
