Millville officials: investigation ongoing after center‑city fire that killed two children; residents press for hydrant records

Millville City commissioners said April 15 that an investigation remains open into a center‑city fire that killed two children and displaced multiple families, while residents and community leaders pressed for public release of fire‑hydrant inspection and maintenance records and for a thorough accounting of infrastructure spending.

The matter drew sustained discussion at the commission meeting after Commissioner Hewitt opened the commissioners’ reports by offering condolences to the victims and thanking first responders (Commissioner Hewitt). Several residents used the public‑comment period to ask for 24 months of hydrant inspection logs, OPRA requests and an independent accounting of water‑system repairs and related spending.

Why it matters: Residents and civic groups said hydrant availability may have hampered firefighting response and could reflect broader, long‑standing gaps in…