Prosecutor: Essex County House Fire Ruled "Not Suspicious"

A tragic fire at an Orange home that claimed the lives of two young children has been declared “not suspicious” by the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.

According to the Prosecutor’s Office, on Friday, Feb. 20, one-year-old Zion Tony and his six-year-old sister, Jayda McEachin, were killed when a fire broke out in their Central Place home. Both were found dead on the third floor. Seven other occupants of the home escaped.

Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray announced on Monday that the preliminary investigation indicates the fire was not caused by arson and does not appear to be suspicious based on the information gathered at this time.

According to the Prosecutor’s Office, on April 14, 2014, there was an inspection of the property and the smoke detectors were operable at that time. It is inconclusive as to whether they were operable at the time of the fire, stated Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of Detectives Anthony Ambrose.

In a previous news report, Orange Mayor Dwayne Warren said there were at least five family members in the house at the time of the fire, three of whom suffered injuries and were taken to Saint Barnabas Medical Center. At least two people jumped from a window to escape the blaze, the report stated.

According to the report, the children’s mother escaped the blaze and was “very distraught.”

The investigation, which is being conducted by the Orange Fire Department and the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, remains active and ongoing. Additional information will be released as it becomes available, stated the Prosecutor’s Office.

A fundraising page to benefit the victims’ family has been established on GoFundMe, a crowdfunding website. As of Monday, March 2, the page has managed to raise $12,350.

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