Two Dead in Shepard Avenue House Fire

An elderly man and his wheelchair-bound wife died in a three-alarm house fire on Shepard Avenue Monday morning, authorities and witnesses said.

A family member identified one victim as 88-year-old Henry Mood, said Detective Lt. Andrew McGurr. His wife, 86-year-old Alberta Mood, is believed to be the second victim, but has not yet been positively identified, police said late Monday morning. 

Emergency services responded to the fire around 6:15 a.m., police said. The fire is not suspicious and police said a kerosene lamp in a bedroom was believed to have sparked the deadly blaze.  

Shepard Avenue resident James Evans said he often stopped to talk to Henry Mood. His wife was a double amputee, Evans said. 

"It's sad," Evans said as a hearse arrived at the scene. "I'm shocked."

"They've been here for years," Evans said of the couple.

Power had been out in the area, police said. 

Evans said he thought the couple was probably using candles to keep warm. He said the area had been without power for days, leaving residents cold and frustrated. 

"It's numbing on this whole block," said area resident Ben Whaley. 

Northeast Teaneck was hit hard by fallen trees and power remained out in much of the area late Monday afternoon.  

Emergency services and investigators remained at the scene for hours and Shepard Avenue was closed at Teaneck Road. 

Monday's fatal fire brought the number of Teaneck residents killed in storm-related incidents to three. State Police were searching for witnesses to an . Police said slushy road conditions played a role in the crash.