Two New Jersey sisters die while attempting to save their father from a house fire on Thanksgiving Day.
On Thanksgiving night, a tragic incident occurred in Essex County, New Jersey, resulting in the deaths of two sisters while they attempted to rescue their father from a rapidly spreading house fire. The deadly blaze ignited around 5 p.m. in Orange Township, leading to a swift response from local fire services.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing substantial flames emanating from the home located on Mosswood Avenue. The urgency of the situation prompted immediate notifications to the fire department, which arrived on the scene within a mere two minutes, according to local neighbor Claire Stevens. Despite their quick response, firefighters were unable to save 49-year-old Frantzia Fleury and her 42-year-old sister, Pojanee Fleury, who perished in the effort to rescue their father, who lives with a disability.
Emergency personnel pronounced the sisters dead at the scene at 6:47 p.m. The announcement was made by Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II and Orange Fire Department Chief Derrick Brown. Fortunately, the father, whose identity has not been disclosed, along with six other residents of the home, managed to escape unharmed.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, with authorities noting that further information is yet to be released. This tragic event has drawn significant attention and concern from the community, highlighting the dangers associated with residential fires. A spokesperson from the Red Cross of New Jersey confirmed that volunteers are providing emergency assistance to eight individuals displaced by the fire.
Orange Township, located approximately 15 miles west of Midtown Manhattan, is a residential area that experienced a devastating holiday incident this year. Community members and officials have expressed their condolences to the families affected by this loss, which has resonated deeply given the circumstances surrounding the sisters’ heroic actions.
As investigations continue into the cause of the blaze, officials are urging residents to remain vigilant and to have emergency plans in place to ensure safety in the event of such tragedies. The community is rallying around those impacted, demonstrating the solidarity that often emerges in the wake of unforeseen disasters.
