Child's body found, 1 child still missing after fire nearly takes out entire block in New Jersey

MILLVILLE, N.J. -- One child's body has been recovered, and the search continues for a second child, after a massive fire burned through several homes in Millville, New Jersey.

The search is being described as a recovery mission.

Two children were unaccounted for after a fire erupted in a New Jersey neighborhood. One person has also been taken to the hospital.

ABC Philadelphia affiliate WPVI spoke to a family member who said he is awaiting word about his nieces, who are ages 9 and 13.

Rubble continues to smolder hours after a fire nearly destroyed an entire block in Millville.

Flames spread to a total of six homes, displacing 23 people.

It broke out at around 11 p.m. on Wednesday.

WPVI's drone was above the spot where the fire burned two duplexes down to the foundation and badly damaged two single-family homes.

"Everything's burned to the ground. We have nothing. My daughter has no shoes on her feet. My son has no coat. We have nothing," said Iteaia Broughton, of Millville.

Nearly two dozen people are facing the same reality after narrowly escaping the fast-moving fire.

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WPVI has been told that a gas line ruptured, which fed the fire and made it more intense, allowing the flames to jump from house to house.

"Until the South Jersey gas arrived and was able to turn the gas off to all the houses, we did have a gas-fed fire that made it a little bit more difficult," said Chief John Wettstein, with the Millville Fire Department.

Broughton, a mother of three, described how it all happened so quickly.

"I just put my baby on my shoulder and went outside and I grabbed my son. I don't know what happened," Broughton recalled.

Another issue is that the hydrant on the block didn't work when firefighters arrived.

The chief said they had to run 800 feet of hose to the nearest hydrant after the trucks ran out of water.

One resident says he watched his home burn down as crews scrambled to get access to water.

The fire chief said they aren't quite ready to give more details on the two children who are unaccounted for. But did say the adult taken to the hospital is a family member of the children. That person is expected to be OK.

The Red Cross is assisting those displaced.