Funeral for 6 Family Members Killed in Newark House Fire

A funeral was held at the Solid Rock Baptist Church in Irvington for the six, who died when a fast-moving fire roared through the single-family home of Salome and Reginald Stewart

Mourners paid their respects Saturday to the six family members who died in a Newark house fire on Father's Day.

A funeral was held at the Solid Rock Baptist Church in Irvington for the six, who died when a fast-moving fire roared through the single-family home of Salome and Reginald Stewart, both 58. Prosecutors have said the blaze was sped along by highly flammable plastic flowers that decorated the front of the house.

Salome Stewart's daughter, 43-year-old Noreen "Michelle" Johnson, was visiting with her 15-year-old son, Stephon Sydney, from Crawford, Georgia, when the fire broke out. Zion Forbes, 11, was staying with his grandmother for the night to see the visiting relatives. Natasha Kinsale, 35, was also caught in the blaze.

"It hurts," said Cheryl Sydney, a relative. "You feel like something has been taken out of your chest."

All six deaths were ruled accidental. Authorities said the home didn't appear to have working smoke detectors.

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