11-YEAR-OLD GIRL AND 8-MONTH-OLD BABY DIE IN JERSEY CITY FIRE, ARSON UNIT INVESTIGATES

Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez has released the following information:

The Hudson County Regional Arson Task Force and the Jersey City Fire Department are investigating a single-alarm fire that killed two children in Jersey City late Wednesday night.

On Wednesday, February 10, 2021, just after 11:30 p.m., the Jersey City Fire Department responded to a working fire at 470 Martin Luther King Drive in Jersey City.

Upon arrival, firefighters encountered a working fire with heavy fire and smoke conditions that was confined to a single apartment. Firefighters gained access to the apartment and located two children, an 11-year-old girl and an 8-month-old boy. The 11-year-old girl was pronounced deceased at the scene and her 8-month-old brother was transported to the Jersey City Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased at 12:24 a.m. The fire was reported under control at 12:07 a.m.

One adult female, the mother of the children, as well as a 6-year-old boy, were able to evacuate the fire unit before firefighters arrived.

The origin and cause of the fire remain under investigation. The cause and manner of death is pending with the Regional Medical Examiner.