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House fire kills family of 5 in Paterson, NJ


By

Verónica Del Valle

Published Nov 1, 2025


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A house with fire damage.

 

Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images


By

Verónica Del Valle

Published Nov 1, 2025


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A family of five in Paterson, New Jersey was killed on Friday night by a fast-moving house fire that decimated their home and displaced seven members of their extended family.

Crews first responded to a 911 call about the fire at 15 Emerson Ave. at 9:51 p.m., according to the Paterson Fire Department. Officials said dispatchers fielded reports of several people trapped on the home’s top floor.

Firefighters on the scene said the house was engulfed in flames by the time they arrived. The department said they discovered all five family members on the home’s second floor as they searched the property. All the victims later died of their injuries.

Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh told NorthJersey.com the fatalities were a father, mother, and three children – ages 7, 12, and 14.

The Red Cross of New Jersey said the seven extended family members who also lived at the Emerson Avenue home are being offered emergency services, such as financial and relocation assistance, as they recover from the fire.

The Paterson Fire Department also said two firefighters were transported to St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center for injuries sustained while battling the blaze.

Authorities have yet to determine the fire’s cause, but Sayegh told NorthJersey.com that Friday’s windy weather “exacerbated the situation.”

Tagged

new jersey

public safety


Verónica Del Valle

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