Jersey City Fire Kills One, Critically Injures Three

A deadly early-morning fire broke out on May 1, 2025, at 296 Summit Avenue in Jersey City, resulting in the death of 59-year-old Lahcen Elmguielle and leaving a 40-year-old woman and two girls, aged 6 and 8, in critical condition. The fire started around 3 a.m. in a three-story mixed-use building, prompting a large emergency response. Firefighters rescued four unconscious people from a second-floor apartment and suffered minor injuries, including burns and smoke inhalation. Eighteen residents were displaced and assisted by the American Red Cross and local agencies. The Hudson County Regional Arson Task Force is investigating the cause, which is not currently considered suspicious. This incident follows a pattern of recent urban fires, including a separate major blaze in Borough Park, Brooklyn.