STORY & PHOTOS BY THOMAS ELLIS II
This past Saturday night around 11:45 pm, a fire broke out at 26 Eckert Avenue in the South Ward of Newark after a birthday party, which left two girls dead, ages 6 and 8.
I spoke with Mr. Linwood Duncan, who lived on the 3rd floor. He told me that he decided not to stay in his apartment that night because they were having a party on the 2nd floor.
He told me that the people on the 2nd floor put furniture and other items in the hallway to make space for the birthday party for one of the little girls.
“Thank God I was not at home,” said Duncan.
Shonda Simpson, a neighbor who lives next door to 26 Eckert, said she called 911 and within minutes they were on the scene. You could hear the screams, and you could see the people running out the house. The whole community came together, and the Newark Fire Dept., EMS, and Newark Police did an amazing job.
“The little girls used to play with my children. This is so painful and shocking,” said Simpson.
Newark Mayor Ras J Baraka was also on the scene and comforted the firefighters, family members, and the residents on the block.
It’s being reported that 7 families and 15 people have received services from the Red Cross, but by deadline of this article, the numbers may increase.
It’s also being reported that the fire started when the two girls was playing with fire by a couch.
The girls attended Mt. Vernon School in Newark. This is so sad and hurtful for their school friends, teachers and community.
Now earlier in the week, 5 houses were damaged when a fire started at 71 Montgomery in an abandoned house and spread to 73, 75, 67 and parts of 65. The house where the fire started was burned to the grown.
While speaking with Ms. Jiana, whose lived on that block for 24 years and whose house is a few doors down, said the residents on the block have been trying to get that abandoned house knocked down for years, but nothing ever happened.
Unfortunately, I think the fire could have been avoided if the abandoned house would have been torn down.
“We wanted that house torn down because it was an eyesore,” said Ms. Jiana.
This fire displaced several families, and they too will be seeking assistance from the Red Cross or from whatever resources are available to them after they have lost everything.
In this fire, it’s being reported that it was possibly started by squatters. Now, the damage has affected the children, families, and neighbors on the block and the Irvington community.
