Millville, New Jersey — A devastating fire swept through a neighborhood late Wednesday night, claiming the lives of two young sisters and causing extensive damage to several residences. The tragedy has shaken the community as authorities and locals begin to assess the impact and search for ways to support the affected families.
The fire, which erupted around 11 p.m. on 4th Street, quickly spread to four neighboring buildings, including two duplexes. A total of six residences were affected, according to Millville Fire Chief John Wettstein. The intensity of the fire led to the collapse of the first and second floors of one building, further complicating firefighting efforts by rupturing natural gas lines, contributing to a more intense, gas-fueled blaze.
Chief Wettstein highlighted the challenges faced by the firefighting crews, including issues with the water supply that necessitated the deployment of over 1,000 feet of supply lines to additional hydrants. “Our teams utilized every resource available, exhausting the water tanks on their engines, which hold several hundred gallons,” Wettstein explained.
The victims of the fire, sisters Valery Mariana Cardona Gómez, 13, and Gissel Samanta Cardona Gómez, 11, were mourned by family and community members. As news of their untimely deaths spread, tributes poured in to honor their memory.
One resident, a mother of three, recounted her harrowing escape from one of the burning duplexes. Initially mistaking the alarm for a dream, she was roused to action by her boyfriend’s urgent warnings. With no time to gather belongings, she and her children fled their home with only the clothes they wore, losing all possessions in the fire.
The aftermath of the blaze left 23 individuals homeless, with the American Red Cross stepping in to provide emergency financial assistance to three families. Efforts to support the recovery of the victims are underway, including an online fundraiser that has been initiated.
Millville Mayor Benjamin Romanik, while observing the ongoing operations to extinguish remaining hot spots the following morning, announced that the state fire marshal’s office is investigating the cause of the fire. The extreme heat from the fire even caused visible damage to a fire engine at the scene.
As the community comes to terms with the scale of the disaster, support services are being organized to assist those displaced. These efforts underscore the tight-knit nature of Millville, as residents and local authorities band together to rebuild and recover from the devastating events of Wednesday night.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of fire safety’s importance and the community’s resilience in the face of such tragedies. As investigations continue, the focus remains on providing relief to the affected families and preventing future incidents through increased awareness and preparedness.