A devastating blaze in Putnam County has claimed the lives of three occupants, while critically injuring three others, including two children. News4Jax reports that a seven-year-old child managed to escape the inferno on North Maryland Avenue, which occurred early Monday morning, subsequently alerting a neighbor to call 911. Carolina Gomez, 27, Elizabeth Hernandez Gomez, 7, and Jesus Hernandez, 18 months, the survivors of the fire, are now in critical condition at UF Health Shands Gainesville, fighting for their lives with severe burn injuries.
According to Action News Jax, the deceased have been identified as Fernando Hernandez Mendez, 31, and Enrique Hernandez Mendez, 33. Found deceased inside what was once their home, their passing marks a tragic loss for the community. As for the cause of the fire, it remains a mystery, under active investigation by authorities who are piecing together this catastrophic event.
Further complicating the dire situation, the Charlotte Observer reports that a four-year-old was among those tragically killed in the fire. In a heart-wrenching detail, it was revealed that "According to family members, the 7-year-old had stayed home from school because of a medical appointment scheduled for later that morning." The fire's intense heat and raging flames did not only impact the residents; one firefighter sustained minor injuries during the crisis and has been treated at a hospital. A fundraising campaign is underway to support the family with the funeral expenses and possibly aid the survivors' medical bills as they cling to life in critical condition.
In the wake of this tragedy, the small community is rallying behind the grieving family and the surviving victims. The sheriff’s office and local fire department are working diligently to understand the origin and the cause of a fire that erupted in the "early morning hours" as per Charlotte Observer.
