8-Year-Old Dead, Sister Critical After NJ House Fire

SOMERVILLE, NJ — One eight-year-old girl has died and her sister was critically injured in an early morning two-alarm house fire in Somerville on Friday.

The fire broke out at 2:10 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 10 at a single-family home on the 130 block of Eastern Avenue in Somerville.

When police got to the house, two adults, a 41-year-old woman and a 31-year-old man, along with a 9-year-old girl were outside of the home, which was fully involved with fire, said Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson.

The three residents all had injuries as a result of the fire and escaping.

Authorities were told that a second child was still trapped inside of the home on the second floor within a rear bedroom. Officers made every attempt to gain entry into the home, but were unsuccessful due to the fire, extreme heat and heavy smoke conditions, said Robertson.

The Assistant Fire Chief from Somerville Fire also tried to get inside but was unable to due to heavy fire, said Robertson.

Somerville Engine 3 and Somerville Truck 1 arrived first and immediately attacked the fire from the back of the home. That's when Somerville Fire Fighters along with the Assistant Somerville Fire Chief pushed through the fire where they were able to get to the second floor to try and rescue the child.

Firefighters found the trapped 8-year-old girl who was unresponsive. They took her out of the burning house but the 8-year-old child was pronounced dead at the scene, said Robertson.

The woman (the children's mother), man and nine-year-old girl were all taken to an area hospital for the burns and cuts they received while escaping the fire through their second-floor bedroom windows.

The two adults are in stable condition. The 9-year-old child has been taken to a burn trauma center in critical but stable condition, said Robertson.

The New Jersey Northern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office will be performing a post mortem examination on the 8-year-old child to determine the cause and manner of death.

Fire companies from Somerville Fire, Raritan Fire, Finderne Fire, Bound Brook Fire, Manville Fire, Green Knoll Fire, and Somerset Fire all were helped. Numerous other fire companies were requested on a stand-by status. First Aid Rescue Squads from Somerville, Green Knoll, Bradley Gardens, Finderne, Branchburg and Robert Wood Johnson ALS and BLS responded to the scene to render emergency aid and transport victims. Somerset County Communication Center along with Somerset County Fire and EMS Coordinators assisted command and operations.

Detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit along with Somerville Police, the Somerset County Fire Investigation Unit, Somerville Fire Marshal and Fire Officials from Somerville conducted the fire investigation.

A cause and origin have not been determined by investigators as the investigation is ongoing.

In response to this tragedy, the Somerville Board of Education is offering mental health support at Van Derveer Elementary School on Friday to help any student or staff member.

"I'm deeply saddened by the tragedy that unfolded early this morning," said Sullivan. "I'm asking the Somerville community to please keep this family in your thoughts and prayers."

Additionally, Sullivan said there will be an organized effort to assist the family through this crisis.

"The greater Somerville community always supports each other in times of need," said Sullivan.

Additional details on how to help will be given at a later date.

Anyone with information relating to the fire is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Major Crimes Unit at 908-231-7100 or the Somerville Police Department at 908-725-0331 or via the STOPit app.

Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.

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