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 infrastructure maintenance. City leaders said they will release what they can when the investigation and any related legal processes allow, and they urged patience while state and county partners review the case.

Commissioner Hewitt and other commissioners repeatedly praised first responders and city staff for their response to the blaze. “The community’s response to come together has been inspiring,” Commissioner Sui said during reports, and Commissioner Kasaboon said she was “very proud of our city that has rallied together.” Vice Mayor Watson and Mayor Romanek also extended condolences and thanked outside departments that assisted at the scene.

Public commenters pressed for records and answers. Darius Smith, who identified himself as a Millville resident, said he had emailed the commission and requested “hydra inspection inspection records and any other city related inspection records for the past 24 months” and asked for a public accounting of infrastructure readiness. Sean Thumb, executive director of the nonprofit Our Future First, said the community “deserves and demands answers” and asked whether a public log of hydrant tests and maintenance exists.

Other speakers, including Tim Carty and Ian Griffiths, described prior OPRA requests for hydrant testing and said they found few or no records in city files for multiple neighborhoods. Carty quoted state standards and recent New Jersey legislation discussed during public comment that require regular hydrant testing and record retention; he urged the city to adopt modern testing practices, GPS mapping, and public logs.

Commissioners outlined limits on what they can release while the investigation proceeds. Commissioner Sui said the city will release “what we can” and that the results of testing and the investigation should be made public after legal review. Commissioner Hewitt said he must be involved in ongoing discussions about a separate shared‑services public‑safety agreement and indicated he expects the item will return to a future agenda.

Some residents also urged the commission not to delay public‑safety improvements. Several speakers connected the hydrant and inspection concerns to broader questions about rental and inspection standards, lead‑pipe replacement and maintenance of water mains.

Ending: Commissioners said grief counseling and support services have been offered to responders and affected families; they asked the public to avoid speculating on social media while the investigation continues. The commission did not take a formal action specific to the fire at the April 15 meeting; commissioners said they will provide additional information as soon as legal constraints permit.