Girls, 6 and 8, Died After Playing with Fire at Birthday Party: Reports

A 6-year-old girl and an 8-year-old girl died after a fire engulfed a Newark, N.J. home on Sunday, Oct. 20, per ABC 7, CBS News and New York Daily News.

One of the two deceased girls’ birthdays was being celebrated outside. The festivities were moved indoors when it got chilly, another child told New York Daily News. Later, around 12:30 a.m., the two girls were “playing with fire near a couch in the hallway” on the second floor, per CBS News.

As the fire spread through the home, it blew out the windows on both the second and third floors.

Neighbor Shonda Simpson called 911 when she saw the flames. “First responders were here within minutes, and they came strong,” Simpson told CBS News. “People were doing whatever they could do get the kids out and it wasn’t doable.”

“I saw firefighters running, I saw families running for their lives, evacuating,” neighbor Adrianna Santos told NJ.com. “People were crying, people were screaming. It was a whole bunch of commotion.”

Authorities found the two children unresponsive and with severe burns, per the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, CBS News reported. Although the first responders tried to resuscitate the young girls, they were pronounced dead at the scene. The girls have not been publicly identified.

“Everybody tried their best to help. It’s not a good feeling,” a firefighter said, per ABC 7. 

“The firefighters were visibly shaken up,” Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said, per the New York Daily News. “Two children dead in a fire is a horrible experience. You could feel that in the air.”

At least 15 other people from seven different families were treated for burn wounds. The home next to it was also heavily damaged. The exact cause of the fire has not been determined, and an investigation is ongoing.

“Everybody is trying to process the loss of two babies who have not had the opportunity to run the surface of life,” Simpson said, per ABC 7. “It was painful, it was shocking. They’re babies, so who would not have remorse.”

Neighbor Dalisa Anthony told ABC 7 that she grew concerned by the number of people living on the second floor, revealing that there were at least 10 residents. She also said she called the mayor’s office and code enforcement a few times, but “the call was dropped” or “no one ever showed up.” She called “many times,” either about the people, the garbage, or the parties.

Several neighbors stated that the home was overcrowded. Third-floor resident Linwood Duncan told ABC 7 that “at least 20 people” live on the second floor, adding he previously complained to the rental company.

Activist Tony Agosto told ABC 7 that around seven to 12 families live there, and “mattresses [are being] stacked.”

The city of Newark said no official complaints about the home or its landlord have been filed. “The only calls we’ve ever gotten from that property were garbage and debris calls,” Mayor Baraka said, per ABC 7.

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A representative for Essex County Prosecutor’s Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for more information on Monday.