FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:  Raymond Worrall

PHONE:  (201) 795-6400 Ext. 6737

EMAIL:  rworrall@hcpo.org

DATE:  Friday, January 3, 2020

REGIONAL ARSON TASK FORCE INVESTIGATES FATAL BAYONNE FIRE

Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez released the following information:

On Friday, January 3, 2020, at approximately 1:50 a.m., the Bayonne Police Department and Fire Department responded to multiple reports of a fire at 3 Islandview Court in Bayonne. Upon arrival, first responders observed a fire in Unit 236 in Building 2 and actively worked to contain and extinguish the fire.

Two victims were discovered upon a search of Unit 236. An unresponsive female victim, age 75, and an unresponsive male victim, age 65, were found in the unit. They were both transported by Emergency Medical Services to Bayonne Medical Center where they were later pronounced dead. They have been identified as Balbina Macchio and John Macchio, a married couple who resided in Unit 236.

A preliminary investigation by the Hudson County Regional Arson Task Force and Bayonne Fire Department has determined that the origin of the fire was in the kitchen of Unit 236. The cause of the fire continues to be under investigation.

All 12 units in the building were affected by the fire and a total of 32 occupants have been displaced — 28 adults and four children.

The Regional Arson Task Force is actively investigating this incident with assistance from the Bayonne Fire Department. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office at 201-915-1345 or leave an anonymous tip on the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office website at http://www.hudsoncountyprosecutorsofficenj.org/homicide-tip/. All information will be kept confidential.