Boy, 11, Killed In Perth Amboy House Fire

PERTH AMBOY, NJ — An 11-year-old boy was killed in a house fire Friday in Perth Amboy, and his 17-year-old brother was severely burned.

The fire occurred at 2:45 a.m. at a home on Chauncey Street, said Perth Amboy Police Chief Larry Cattano.

As of Monday, the cause and origin of the fire remain under investigation.

"The Perth Amboy Police Department is unable to comment on how or where the fire started and the specific circumstances surrounding the victims' injuries," said a spokeswoman for the city of Perth Amboy.

Six families lived in the building in separate apartment units. In total, 26 people were evacuated from the building Friday and two people had to be flown to a burn unit.

Woodbridge and Sayreville Fire departments assisted with putting out the fire. A police officer, a firefighter and a passerby helping to put out the fire were also injured, but minorly.