Probe of Deadly West Orange, NJ, House Fire Continues

July 16, 2024
A woman, 75, and two brothers, 3 and 8, were found unresponsive in their house in West Orange.

Chris Sheldon

nj.com

(TNS)

A 75-year-old woman and two young boys —others ages 3 and 8 — were identified Monday as the victims of a deadly fire on Saturday in West Orange, authorities said.

Grace Drury, and the children, identified only by their initials of A.D., were found unresponsive by firefighters inside the Liberty Street home, according to a statement Monday from the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office. The house was filled with heavy smoke from a small fire in the kitchen area, the prosecutor’s office said. First responders rendered aid but all three were pronounced dead at the scene.

The official cause and manner of their deaths was still under investigation, as was the cause and origin of the fire, the office said.

It was unclear how the woman was related to the children, who were identified by West Orange Public Schools Superintendent Hayden Moore as brothers.

Moore said the older child was a local elementary school student and said Drury was a family member.

“Today, our hearts are heavy as we mourn the tragic loss of one of our elementary students, their sibling, and a beloved family member in a devastating house fire,” Moore said in social media post. “Our deepest condolences go out to the family during this incredibly difficult time.”

 

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