Two girls die at birthday party in fatal Newark, NJ house fire

🔴 Two "little girls" killed in fire, officials confirm

🔴 A birthday was being held at the home

🔴 NJ Red Cross is assisting 7 families

NEWARK — Two young girls are dead after a horrible fire in this city's South Ward overnight, according to officials.

The Essex County Prosecutor's Office is investigating the fatal fire that killed two victims, according to Chief Assistant Prosecutor Thomas Fennelly.

"Two little girls were killed in the fire," said ECPO spokesperson Carmen Martin.

The victims were six and eight years old, officials said. Their bodies were "severely burned" and they were pronounced dead at the scene.

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Fatal Newark birthday party fire

The fire broke out just before midnight at a home on Eckert Avenue, RLS Metro Breaking News reported. Authorities said they were called to the home around 12:30 a.m. early Sunday morning.

A birthday party was being held for one of the girls on the second floor of the home, prosecutors said.

Witnesses said to detectives that the girls were playing with fire near a couch in the hallway. Investigators found the fire started on the second floor and spread to the third floor.

It's unclear how many people were injured in the fire. At least one person was seen on video being carried out on a stretcher.

One fire victim said to ABC7 that he left before the fire to get away from the noise. The man said he lost everything in the fire.

The New Jersey Red Cross said on X that it is helping 15 people from seven families with temporary lodging, food, and clothing.

"Our thoughts are with the families affected by the fire on Eckert Ave in #Newark," the non-profit said.

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