Paterson Halloween Fire Kills Five; Family Identified

A fast-moving Halloween-night fire tore through a two-family house at 15 Emerson Ave. in Paterson late Friday, killing five members of a family — 39-year-old Raid Abuhadbeh, his 38-year-old wife and their children, ages 14, 12 and 7 — after emergency calls came in around 9:50–9:54 p.m. Firefighters found the victims on the second floor; Mayor André Sayegh said wind-driven flames thwarted neighbors’ rescue attempts and two members of the department — a city fire captain and a firefighter — were taken to hospital for evaluation. Assemblyman Al Abdelaziz confirmed the victims were members of his extended family. The American Red Cross is assisting seven survivors, and Paterson’s firefighter union started a GoFundMe to help with funerals and aid for remaining residents. The cause remains under investigation, and anyone with information is asked to contact the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office tips line or submit an anonymous tip online.