Family of 3 killed in overnight fire in Monroe

Village Mayor Neil Dwyer released a statement on Facebook asking people to pray for the victims, their family and first responders.

News 12 Staff

Feb 23, 2023, 12:18 PM

Updated 598 days ago

Share:

From happiness to heartbreak, people who knew and loved the Goldsteins are in shock by the loss of a young family whose lives were cut tragically short.
Kalman Goldsteinand his wife, Sarah, died Thursday morning during an early morning fire at their house on Highland Avenue in Monroe. Their only daughter, Miriam, died too. 
Neighbors tell News 12 they woke each other up and called for help when they realized the house was on fire. 
One neighbor said she worried something was wrong when she saw the couple’s cars in the driveway but didn’t see the family out safe.
“I saw the fire. The front part of it was in flames. Totally in flames,” said Lucette Miles.
The family moved to Monroe several years ago and had ties to Kiryas Joel, Monsey and Brooklyn, according to several people who knew the family. 
Funeral services were held Thursday afternoon in Williamsburg. 
The family belonged to Chabad of Orange County, who helped them find a private school for their daughter. 
Chabad issued a statement saying, “We feel blessed to have known this family and are heartbroken by the loss. May their memories be a blessing.”
Authorities have not said if the home had working smoke detectors or what caused the fire.
News 12 saw investigators on the scene throughout the day.
Miriam’s school, Tenafly Chabad Academy in New Jersey, said their school community is heartbroken and that Miriam was a “beautiful kindergarten friend.”
Monroe Mayor Neil Dwyer also reacted to the devastating tragedy on Facebook and asked people to pray for the Goldsteins, their loved ones and first responders.