Natalie Jefferson lost her mother and several of her children in a fire that destroyed her South Plainfield, N.J., home on Feb. 23, 2012. (Photo: CBS 2)
SOUTH PLAINFIELD, N.J. (CBSNewYork) — A heartbroken mother spoke out on Wednesday, one week after four of her children and her mother died in a fire.
She and three others barely got out alive.
Natalie Jefferson is still trying to grapple with the loss of most of her family.
“Feels like I’m in another world, without my mother and four children. Real difficult, like a feeling I can’t explain,” the 33-year-old told CBS 2’s John Slattery.
It was early last Thursday when she awoke to find her side of a two-family home in smoke and flames.
2-year-old Elijah, 3-year-old Christopher, 12-year-old Alize and 7-year-old Tyler were killed in the fire. (credit: handout)
“The flames, so fast, three to four seconds, boom, whole lot of smoke. Couldn’t see upstairs, couldn’t breathe. Heat burning my face,” Jefferson said.
Her mother, 62-year-old Ann Jefferson, and four of her children, Elijah, Christopher, Alize and Tyler, were trapped upstairs. Natalie Jefferson made it out alive with Jaquan, Jordan and 2-year-old Angel. They watched as five perished in heat that hit 2,000 degrees, according to fire officials.
“I just went crazy. I didn’t feel anything. I just went crazy. My emotions left my whole body. Felt crazy,” Natalie Jefferson said.
Some bodies were burned so badly, dental records were required for identification. The fire started in the kitchen.
“I think it was faulty wiring in my house. The stove, something in kitchen, so, probably faulty wiring,” Natalie said.
She’s still waiting for the investigation to conclude, for the release of the bodies and the funeral that will probably take place next week.
Jordan Jefferson is the only one still hospitalized, for burns, but the 8-year-old is expected to be released in a couple of weeks.
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