New Jersey woman dies trying to save her nine-month-old granddaughter from horror house fire that also claimed the baby's life
A New Jersey grandmother has died trying to rescue her nine-month-old granddaughter from an overnight house fire, which also killed the infant.
Family and sources familiar with the investigation have identified the deceased victims as 43-year-old Tiffany Jones and her granddaughter, Malani.
The inferno ignited inside a wood frame rowhouse in the 200 block of Woodlawn Avenue in Hamilton Township just before 4am on Friday.
According to a press release from Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo Onofri's office, the fire caused a partial roof collapse while six family members were inside the residence.
Nine-month-old Malani and her grandmother Jones were found dead inside the home by firefighters who responded to the scene.
A relative told NBC10 Jones died trying to save her granddaughter's life.
Family members identified Tiffany Jones, 43 , and her nine-month-old granddaughter, Malani , as the two people who were killed in an overnight house fire in New Jersey
A devastating house fire killed a grandmother and her baby granddaughter in Hamilton Township, New Jersey, early Friday
The two-alarm fire consumed much of this woodframe row house on Woodlawn Avenue, leaving two dead and three injured
According to Facebook posts from loved ones, Jones' husband, Prince Jones, and her 23-year-old daughter, Princess Jones, who is Malani's mother, were among three people who were taken to the hospital suffering from critical injuries. Their conditions were not immediately disclosed.
Officials have not formally identified the victims as of Friday afternoon.
The prosecutors' office stated that the cause of the fire is unknown at this time, as are the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the woman and child.
An adjacent home sustained extensive damage as a result of the two-alarm fire, but its inhabitants were said to have escaped unharmed.
Joe Shamon, the owner of that house, told 6abc that his tenants were saved thanks to a smoke alarm.
The fire caused a partial roof collapse, trapping the family members inside the burning home
Firefighters later discovered the grandmother and her nine-month-old granddaughter dead inside the scorched structure
Family members are seen embracing outside the burned out house in Hamilton Township on Friday morning
Malani's mother, Princess Jones, 23 , was said to have been hospitalized with injuries
The American Red Cross said that the fire has displaced three families.
A next-door neighbor told the station that she was awakened by the light of the fire and saw through her window a screaming man running out of his home engulfed in flames.
Hamilton Township Mayor Jeff Martin released a statement addressing the deadly house fire.
'This is a very sad day for Hamilton,' he said. 'This tragedy touches the heart of everyone. This morning I met with the family to grieve with them and their loved ones and offer our support in any way we can.'