ORANGE, N.J., Dec. 30 (AP) - The house where nine people died in a fire had operable smoke detectors, city officials said today, contradicting their initial claim that there were none.

They also said that they had discovered two illegal apartments in the bulding.

At a City Hall news conference, Mayor Robert Brown, Police Chief Charles Cobbertt and Fire Director John Gamba said the investigation into the cause of the fire would take at least three more days.

The single-family house at 421 Hillside Avenue, where 17 people lived, had illegal apartments on the first and third floors, Mr. Brown said.

He urged residents to notify the authorities if they believe a single-family house is being used for multiple dwellings. Mr. Brown said single and two-family homes are not inspected for safety violations, but units housing three families or more are checked yearly.

The Mayor said no charges would be filed against the owner of the house, Pierre Moise, because the fire was deemed accidental and none of the dead lived in the apartments. Mr. Moise's six children, wife, mother-in-law and sister-in-law - who all lived on the second floor - died in Wednesday morning's blaze. Funeral services and burial were planned for next Wednesday.

Chief Cobbertt said investigators are focusing on what Mr. Moise's Brother-in-law, Fred Mitchell, told them about the fire's origin, Mr. Mitchell, the brother of Moise's wife, rented the first-floor apartment along with another brother and a cousin.

Mr. Mitchell told police that he returned from his night job at 7 A.M on Wednesday and was cold.

"So e put on his electric space heater and went to bed," Chief Cobbertt said. "He was awakened because he was having trouble breathing and he noticed a fire coming from the area of the heater."

About the same time, Mr. Moise who had gone to his job in Plainfield, called his wife, Chief Cobbertt said.

"While he was on the phone with her, she yelled 'Fire! Fire!' and dropped the phone," Chief Cobbertt said, adding that Mr. Moise said he heard the smoke detectors going off in the background.

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“Reach Back with One Hand and Pull Someone Else Up With You.”

– Charles C. Cobbertt

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