87-year-old woman dies, 7 displaced in Elizabeth fire

ELIZABETH — Firefighters battled both cold and fire during a three-alarm fire Saturday night that claimed the life of an elderly woman and left seven people homeless.

Temperatures were in the teens and when the fire on Flora Avenue in Elizabeth broke out before 11 p.m. and became an all-hands-on-deck operation with heavy smoke and fire throughout the house including the two-story house and the attic, according to the Elizabeth Fire Officers IAAF Local 3040 Facebook page.

NJ.com reported 87-year Mary Ray suffered a heart attack and later died. Two firefighters were hospitalized for burns and a third suffered a back injury, according to the report. RLS Media said the fire was brought under control around midnight.

The American Red Cross said it assisted six people afterwards including temporary lodging.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com.

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