Officials identified the victims as Frantzia Fleury, 49, and Pojanee Fleury, 42; the father survived.
ORANGE, N.J. — Candles and flowers lined a fence on Mosswood Avenue Friday as neighbors mourned two sisters who died in a Thanksgiving evening fire that swept through their family’s home. Authorities said flames were reported shortly after 5 p.m. Thursday.
The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office said the victims, identified as Frantzia Fleury, 49, and Pojanee Fleury, 42, were found inside the house after firefighters brought the blaze under control. A spokesperson said the women were trying to help their father escape when conditions rapidly deteriorated. He and six others got out without injuries. The American Red Cross said it is assisting a family of eight with emergency lodging and immediate financial help while the investigation continues.
Residents described a chaotic scene as engines converged on the narrow block. “I ran outside and the whole side window was on fire,” said a neighbor who lives across the street. Crews from Orange, West Orange and Montclair stretched hose lines through the front porch and upstairs hallway, neighbors said, and ventilated the roof as smoke pushed into the night air. Officials said the fire was declared under control by about 6:45 p.m., and the medical examiner pronounced the sisters dead minutes later.
Spokesperson Carmen Martin said the fatal-fire protocol is underway. Investigators are testing debris, examining appliances and wiring, and documenting burn patterns to determine origin and cause. The house, listed at 660 Mosswood Ave., remained taped off Friday as city inspectors evaluated structural safety. No firefighter injuries were reported. Officials declined to estimate damage or comment on insurance status. The cause remains undetermined, and there is no indication of criminal activity at this time.
The loss resonated on a holiday centered on family gatherings. Neighbors said the sisters were known around the block for greeting passersby and helping their father. “They were always smiling,” said a longtime resident who brought a bouquet to the fence. Another neighbor said firefighters worked quickly through heavy smoke. “They moved like they knew someone was still inside,” he said, watching crews rotate on and off the porch while police kept the street clear.
Officials said next steps include autopsies by the medical examiner, interviews with relatives and neighbors, and a laboratory review of collected materials. The prosecutor’s office said a preliminary origin-and-cause assessment will be shared once evidence processing is complete. Funeral plans were not immediately available Friday. City officials said they expect to provide an administrative update after inspectors and utility crews finish work at the site.
As evening fell Friday, a few dozen people lingered by the tape line in the cold, trading stories about the sisters and checking on the father’s condition. A small pile of candles flickered beneath a streetlight as police patrols passed. Investigators said the next public update could come early next week.
Author note: Last updated November 28, 2025.