Tragic Blaze in Paterson Raises Questions About Home Renovation and Safety
A Halloween fire in Hillcrest, Paterson, New Jersey, killed five family members. This raises concerns concerning home improvements and escapes. A small Cape Cod house on 15 Emerson Avenue burned about 10 p.m. Two families lived in an unauthorized layout. The second-floor residents were a 39-year-old husband, his 38-year-old wife, and their three children, ages 14, 12, and 7. They could not escape the house through a back outdoor stairway because flames stopped it.
Firefighters believe the fire started at the back of the first floor and spread due to strong winds and the house’s design. Although advertised as a single-family home, the 1950 property appears to have been divided into two apartments, one on the ground level and one above. The wall separating the two stories, the lack of a front door to the second level, and the single staircase to escape may have caused the death. Investigators are investigating whether the alteration was allowed and fire code violations.
Neighbours reported a disturbing scene. While trick-or-treaters were out, the fire destroyed the rear steps, preventing the upstairs family from leaving. A neighbor reported that the first-floor inhabitants were alerted and left, but the single stairway to the upstairs home immediately became blocked. The main door on the upper floor was missing, and firemen found partitioned, hard-to-reach compartments. Emergency officials said the upstairs household couldn’t leave since the backyard was only accessible by hose.
Seven ground-floor apartment survivors received shelter, food, and clothing from the American Red Cross. Local politicians and residents mourn the family. A state assemblyman’s father was well-known in the community. Friendly family that waved, laughed, and went about their business was remembered. Even a well-kept Paterson neighborhood was shaken by their kidnapping.
The case raises safety concerns when renovating single-family homes into many units without legal clearance. Fire experts warn against using one rear staircase as an exit. To meet egress standards, fire-resistant materials, and clear escape pathways, structural alterations are needed. Broken stairs increase the speed of disasters, according to study. The local fire chief claimed that the first unit he put in encountered large back flames that spread to the second floor. The fire that consumed the lone back stairway blocked access to the second-floor unit, indicating layout and building changes.
Fire origins are being investigated, but no foul play has been identified. Officials are reviewing city records to determine if the adjustment was lawful and if safety inspections were done. Paterson wants tighter controls for changing multi-unit buildings into single-family houses and better homeowner fire safety education after the event. The community is upset and wants to learn from this so no other family has to.
