ELIZABETH, N.J. (1010 WINS) -- A mother that was hospitalized following a fire at a New Jersey furniture store has died days after her two young daughters and two other victims perished in the blaze, the Elizabeth mayor's office announced on Tuesday morning.
Merlyn Vasquez, 36, was hospitalized in critical condition on October 5, after the five-alarm fire that started from a first-floor dollar store soda machine quickly spread through the commercial building and trapped the victims at a second-floor furniture store.
Elizabeth spokeswoman Kelly Martins said Vasquez died Thursday.
Officials identified the youngest victim as Vasquez's 8-year-old daughter Daniela.
Her 10-year-old sister Paola was found in the debris the next morning.
A Vasquez family friend, 11-year-old Elizabeth Correas, was also killed, along with another woman officials identified as Candida Martinez-Del Reyes.
Officials also discovered Martinez-Del Reyes in the debris the following morning.
According to Elizabeth Mayor Christian Bollwage, the victims were shopping inside of the second floor furniture store when the fire began.
Employees tried to put out the fire with a extinguisher but called the fire department when that didn't work.
The victims attempted to flee but a metal cage blocked their escape through a back door, officials said.
Bollwage noted that there may have been a fire escape at the back of the building at one point, but it was unclear when it was removed.
A GoFundMe page was started for the Vasquez sisters as well as one for 11-year-old Elizabeth Correas.
