Police identify woman killed in Pleasantville house fire

PLEASANTVILLE, N.J. (WPVI) -- Officials have released the name of one of the victims killed in house fire in Pleasantville, New Jersey.

43-year-old Jenny Lopez-Tavarez was one of two people killed in the fire on the 100 block of West Wright Street Friday night.

The name of the other victim has not yet been released.

"I smelled a funny smell and I checked my house first, you know. I came outside like it's coming from somewhere, I didn't even notice the fire," said neighbor Richard Dorsey. "When I looked up, I noticed the brightness. Flames were just pouring out of the windows."

Dorsey said he called 911 and grabbed a garden hose.

"I just wanted to stop it from spreading, you know?" said Dorsey.

Fire crews arrived to a well-involved fire at the home.

Additional firefighters from neighboring departments were brought in to assist.

It took crews about an hour to get the blaze under control.

Neighbors said a husband and wife lived at the home and an older woman was staying with them. They tell us it was the two women who died.

Family members tell Action News the victims had been living there for a few years without electricity and they often lit candles at night to see. They believe that could be what sparked the blaze.

Officials are still investigating the cause of the blaze.