The Thanksgiving fire on Mosswood Avenue killed Frantzia and Pojanee Fleury and left their family grieving as investigators search for the cause.
ORANGE, N.J. — Two sisters were killed on Thanksgiving after they ran back into a burning two-story house on Mosswood Avenue to reach their disabled father, authorities and relatives said. The blaze was reported around 5 p.m., and both women were pronounced dead shortly before 7 p.m.
Officials identified the victims as Frantzia Fleury, 49, and her sister, Pojanee “PJ” Fleury, 42. The fire has left the home uninhabitable and a close-knit block in mourning. The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office is leading the investigation, which is in its early stages. Relatives said the sisters were celebrating the holiday with family when smoke and flames spread quickly through the house, forcing a frantic search for loved ones and a rush to help their father, who uses a wheelchair and has dementia.
Flames broke out shortly after 5 p.m. Thursday on Mosswood Avenue between Heywood and Tremont avenues, neighbors said. As relatives scrambled outside, the sisters ran back in to reach their father on an upper floor. “Understand these two women had big hearts,” said Sidney, a cousin who asked that his last name not be used. “They were deeply devoted to their families, and it’s just a tragedy.” He said one sister lived in the home and the other was visiting for the holiday. The father was later brought out and, according to the cousin, taken to a hospital for smoke inhalation. Seven other people escaped the fire.
Authorities said the victims were found inside the home and declared dead shortly after 6:45 p.m. The Essex County medical examiner will determine the exact cause and manner of death. City of Orange Fire Chief Derrick Brown said the fire appeared to start on the second floor, but the origin remains under investigation. The prosecutor’s office said the father and six other occupants made it out; relatives said he received treatment for smoke exposure. The two accounts differ on whether he was injured, and officials did not immediately reconcile that detail. The house was posted with an “unsafe structure” notice after the blaze.
Family members described Frantzia as a Marine Corps veteran who later worked as an X-ray technologist, and Pojanee as a creative entrepreneur who founded a community magazine. Each had one child, relatives said. Neighbors said the family had lived on the block for decades. “Hearing that they were trying to help their dad, that’s not surprising,” said neighbor Justin McDaniel. “You wish they were still here.” Another neighbor, Claire Stevens, said she saw flames racing through the home as sirens approached. “We were just afraid our neighbors were still inside,” she said.
Thanksgiving is one of the busiest days of the year for house fires, and the Orange blaze drew a large response as smoke pushed into the street. Fire crews attacked flames at the front and rear of the structure while relatives gathered on the sidewalk. The prosecutor’s office said investigators are interviewing witnesses, reviewing the 911 timeline and examining electrical and cooking sources as standard procedure. No foul play is suspected at this stage, and officials did not report any other injuries among those who escaped. The names of all the surviving occupants were not released.
Investigators said the cause is undetermined and remains open. The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office is handling the case with assistance from Orange fire officials. The agency said autopsies will be conducted by the county medical examiner. Officials did not announce a timetable for a preliminary report. If investigators identify an accidental ignition source, they will note it in a final finding; if not, the cause may be listed as undetermined. The home will stay posted as unsafe until structural inspectors and insurance adjusters complete separate reviews.
By Friday morning, scorched siding, a boarded doorway and a sagging roofline marked the Mosswood Avenue address. Friends stopped by with flowers and prayers. “They’ve always been good people,” McDaniel said. Lynval James, a family friend, said the sisters looked after older neighbors and checked in on church members. “If they gave you their word, their word was good,” James said. A relative said the family is now focused on caring for the sisters’ children and their father.
As of Saturday afternoon, officials had not released a cause of the Thanksgiving fire. The next formal update is expected from the prosecutor’s office once the medical examiner finishes autopsies and investigators complete interviews. A funeral plan was not immediately announced.
Author note: Last updated November 30, 2025.