Neighbors mourn mother, 7-year-old son killed in weekend house fire – NJ.com

Family homes line both sides of Park Avenue in suburban Nutley, and signs of life are everywhere — neighbors greet one another, children’s toys sit in backyards and the last remnants of Christmas decorations lay forgotten out front.

But then there is the charred reminder of the tragedy that tore through this otherwise idyllic neighborhood only a day earlier.

On Saturday, 29-year-old Amanda Russo and her 7-year-old son died when a fire broke out in their home on the 300 block of Park Avenue. Russo’s parents also lived there, but survived the blaze.

Their home now sits black and empty. A burned chair and household appliances lay in the front yard. Snow and soot cover the front porch. A car still sits in the driveway, along with the little boy’s bicycle.

Russo and her son’s sudden deaths came as a shock to neighbors who have known the family for many years.

Joe Pospisil, 88, a next-door neighbor of the family for decades, knew something was wrong when he saw Russo’s father standing outside in a bathrobe and her mother running down the street toward the scene.

Posipisil watched as smoke poured from under the eaves and flames shot out of the second story. On their front lawn, emergency responders tried in vain to revive Russo and her little boy.

Russo and her son were pronounced dead at Clara Maass Medical Center, according to Essex County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Thomas Fennelly. Authorities withheld the child’s name from public statements because he’s a minor.

The cause and origin of the fire are under investigation Sunday, Fennelly said.

The Nutley Fire Department, in a statement through town Commissioner Alphonse Petracco, said units were on scene within minutes, but flames had already engulfed the upper portion of the house, making rescue attempts difficult.

“This is an extremely difficult time for our town having lost two of our residents and our prayers and thoughts go out to the family. As a township, we will offer any support we are able to provide during these difficult days,” said Petracco, who also serves as director of public safety, said Sunday.

Standing on his porch Sunday morning, Pospisil gestured to the snow-covered grass as he remembered the days the young boy played in that same yard.

“It’s just a terrible thing,” Pospisil said.

The 7-year-old spent much of his time with his grandmother, Pospisil said. The pair would play together outside or wait at the bus stop together in the mornings.

“His grandma used to take good care of him,” he said. “She was a wonderful grandmother.”

Another neighbor who declined to be named echoed Pospisil’s praise of the grandmother, who is left with only the clothes on her back.

“She is just devastated,” the neighbor said.

Jenna Wise may be reached at jwise@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JennaRWise. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips.

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