Investigators in Essex County continue to probe the cause as neighbors share memories and mourn.
ORANGE, N.J. — A growing memorial on Mosswood Avenue honored Frantzia Fleury, 49, and Pojanee “PJ” Fleury, 42, who died after returning into their burning home on Thanksgiving to reach their father, relatives said. Fire crews responded shortly after 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 27, and found heavy smoke and flames.
The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office arson task force is leading the inquiry into what ignited the blaze. Officials said at least seven people escaped the two-story house and that the sisters were found inside after conditions improved. The father, who uses a wheelchair and lives with dementia, was rescued and treated. Authorities have not released a cause, saying the review of witness statements, debris and utilities is ongoing. The block remained taped off for much of the weekend as city inspectors assessed structural damage and utility crews secured gas and power.
Relatives described the sisters as protectors who centered family gatherings around their father. “They wouldn’t leave him,” said a cousin, Sidney, while arranging candles near the stoop. Neighbors said the family had lived on the street for years and often helped others with rides, groceries and holiday dinners. A longtime neighbor, Justin McDaniel, called the loss “devastating,” adding that he watched firefighters pull residents to safety as smoke rolled across porches and front yards.
Authorities said two fatalities were confirmed at the scene and that more than half a dozen people escaped, including children and extended family who had gathered for Thanksgiving. Officials did not report any firefighter injuries. The fire blackened siding and blew out several windows. Investigators will map the spread of heat and smoke room by room, check smoke alarm placement and test appliances, a process that can take days or longer depending on lab results and the availability of occupants for interviews.
Friends and colleagues said Frantzia worked in health care and was known for checking on patients and neighbors beyond her shift. Pojanee ran creative ventures and community projects and often organized drives around the holidays. Both were described as steady, matter-of-fact problem solvers who kept a close watch on their father’s care. “They were the first ones you called,” said a family friend who declined to give her last name. “If something needed to get done, they handled it.”
In the coming days, officials are expected to issue a preliminary finding on the origin and cause once the structure is safe to enter fully and the debris pattern is documented. If the cause is accidental, the case will close with a formal report; if investigators find signs of foul play or code violations, follow-up steps could include subpoenas, additional inspections and potential enforcement action. Funeral arrangements were not immediately announced. The family said they plan to share service details after meeting with investigators and clergy.
By late Sunday, the memorial had grown to include handwritten notes, flowers and small battery candles. Neighbors said they plan to keep watch over the property until the next official update this week, when investigators are expected to share initial findings on the fire’s origin and whether further testing is needed.
Author note: Last updated December 1, 2025.