Tragedy struck in Liberty County on Tuesday as a fast-moving fire in a mobile home took the lives of two individuals, an 84-year-old woman and a 9-month-old girl. The Tarkington Volunteer Fire Department, which received the distress call around 7:50 p.m., tried to save the occupants but found both victims deceased upon their arrival, according to information provided to ABC13.

The fire, reported in the 200 block of County Road 2198, drew a swift and urgent response from nearby fire departments, including Cleveland Fire Department units. Doc Sikes, a Tarkington firefighter, was the first responder to enter the mobile home. In a statement obtained by ABC13, Sikes said, "If you close your eyes, that's pretty much the visibility that I had. It was completely pitch black. The heat conditions were extremely hot. Older model mobile homes are built like aluminum cans, so they hold heat extremely well," The elderly woman was found dead in the hallway, and the infant was later located lifeless in a bedroom.

Officials mentioned that the blaze produced heavy fire from the living room area, complicating rescue and firefighting efforts. The inability to isolate the room was due to the door having already burned. Chief Paul Gregory of the Tarkington Fire Department indicated to ABC13 that the flames were quickly extinguished once crews fully engaged the fire.

Both victims were transported to the forensic center in Beaumont for autopsies, as noted in coverage by FOX26 Houston. The investigation into the fire's origin continues. The Texas State Fire Marshal's Office, along with the Liberty County Fire Marshals, were notified and arrived Wednesday morning to investigate the scene. The exact cause of the fire remains unknown at this time.