5-Year-Old Girl Trapped on Top Floor Amid Raging House Fire Dies; 6 Others Hurt

Three police officers were also treated for smoke inhalation

A 5-year-old girl trapped on the top floor of a three-family home that went up in flames in New Jersey overnight has died, the town mayor says, and her grandmother, along with six others, remain hospitalized.

A gas explosion in a garage at the multi-family home in Little Ferry was thought to have sparked the blaze shortly before midnight on Tuesday. The fire forced people onto Washington Avenue as it spread to the home, SUV and car.

Flames shot up from the vehicles as firefighters scrambled to control the blaze. Police and EMS were at the scene assisting victims and at least two people were being attended on the ground outside the home.

Seven people inside the home were taken to the hospital with injuries.

The 5-year-old girl who died was initially taken to the hospital with critical injuries. Her grandmother had burns on most of her body and was hanging out of a window when she was rescued. The girl's mother, meanwhile, jumped out of a window and was taken to Hackensack University Medical Center. 

Another family who lived on the second floor also had to jump from the building after a staircase ignited. The two parents and two daughters, ages 14 and 20, were taken to the hospital. 

Three officers were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation. It's not clear if those officers were the three cops who helped families jump to safety from the burning building. 

Neighbors helped or watched in despair as the flames consumed the home and smoke swirled in the air. Later Wednesday, the home was seen blackened and charred as crews still worked the scene. 

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