A New Jersey family of five was tragically killed Halloween night — two of the children were found dead in the bathroom — when a massive fire ripped through their Paterson home.
Three children, aged 14, 12 and 7, along with their parents, both aged 38, died in the inferno which erupted just before 10 p.m., fire officials said.
The identities of the victims have not yet been released, but Paterson Mayor André Sayegh said the father was Palestinian and a relative of NJ Assemblyman Al Abdelaziz.
A family of five was killed in a New Jersey house fire Halloween night. Christopher SadowskiThe family was found dead in the second floor of the home and two of the children were located in the bathroom, Paterson Fire Chief Alejandro Alicea told The Post.
The cause of the fire is unclear, authorities said.
“Losing an entire family of five like this is the biggest loss we’ve seen in a long time,” Alicea said. “It’s not common to have so many deceased. … It’s a tragedy. …That’s all I can say.”
Three members of the fire department are related to the family, a source told The Post.
Officials said heavy winds contributed to the fire’s intensity. Kyle Mazza/ShutterstockPhotos of the black charred home show the devastation, with the fire leaving much of the house’s interior scaffolding exposed after burning through its outer layers.
The top floor window was blown out with its frame hanging on by its corner.
Authorities believe the blaze broke out on the first floor of the home, and rapidly extended to the second floor — high winds were believed to have contributed to the severity of the blaze.
The children were aged 14, 12 and 7. Christopher Sadowski“It started on the first floor,” Alicea said “When our first arriving unit got there, they reported heavy fire in the rear of the structure.
“It rapidly extended into the second floor due to the high winds.”
The home on Emerson Street, Paterson, on Saturday, November 1, 2025. LP MediaA fire captain and firefighter were hospitalized and six people were displaced due to the fire, Alicea said.
A neighbor described the family as “really good people.”
“Very good people. Really, really good people, friendly. Every time I drive by, they would always wave. If they were outside, they would see my car, I would beep the horn and I would wave to them … and then to hear about this, it’s unbelievable,” John Miller, a neighbor, told CBS News.
The investigation into the cause of the blaze is still ongoing, and Alicea said there is no evidence that indicates suspicious activity.
The Pasaic County Prosecutor’s Office is asking for anyone with information to contact them at 1-877-370-7276 or at tips@passaiccountynj.org.
