CAMDEN, N.J. (AP) -- Members of two families remained in critical condition Saturday, one day after being pulled from a burning rowhouse.
Neighbors said the Silva and Rivera families were pulled from the house Friday, in part because of the actions of a security guard and an employee from a nearby company.
``I was awoken by a man yelling fire at the top of his lungs and when I came outside, I saw him kicking at the front door,'' neighbor Deyanery Solia told the Courier-Post of Cherry Hill for Saturday's newspapers.
All nine of the people inside needed firefighters' help to get out, said Ralph Roberts, Camden's chief fire marshal.
The victims, identified by the newspaper, were taken first to Cooper University Hospital and then to the burn unit at Crozier-Chester Medical Center in Upland, Pa.
Listed in critical condition were: Luis Silva, 33; his wife, Maria, 28; her son, Carlos Cruz, 6, and daughters Angelia Cruz, 13, and Jennifer Cruz, 9. Also in critical condition were Silva's sister, Iris Rivera, 44, and her children, Victor Perez, 23, and Jesus Perez, whose age was not made public.
Hospital officials on Saturday declined to provide the condition of Rivera's husband, Roberto Gonzales, 39.
Neighbors said the Rivera family was visiting from Puerto Rico for a vacation.
``You could hear people inside screaming 'Help me, help me!' and the children crying, 'Mommy, Mommy!' I've seen fires before, but never nothing like this in my entire life,'' said neighbor Lucy Malavet.
Roberts on Friday said the fire was under investigation. The fire marshal could not be reached for comment Saturday.
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