Juan Moreno died trying to rescue his two daughters. He had previously saved his wife and other children
Juan Moreno and his two older daughters died in the fire.
Photo:
GoFundMe Moreno Family
A father and two of his daughters died when a fire swept through his apartment in southern California early Friday after he returned to the burning house to try to rescue the children, Hemet police said.
The 41-year-old father died in a desperate attempt to rescue all members of his family, police said.
The fire was reported around 1:15 a.m., near Alessandro Street and Latham Avenue. Three members of a family of seven died after the fire began in their residence and spread to nearby units.
The victims were identified as a 41-year-old man and two girls, 12 and 4 years old. An 8 year old boy is in serious condition.
The 8-year-old son was also seriously injured and was taken to a hospital, Hemet police spokesman Lt. Jeff Davis said in a statement.
Family members were asleep when the fire broke out in their second-floor unit in the apartment complex in Hemet, 75 miles southeast of Los Angeles, Lt. Nate Miller said.
The 41-year-old father took his wife, baby and 11-year-old son from the apartment, before returning for his other children. The girls who died with their father were 12 and 4 years old.
The man's wife told police that the fire had begun in his apartment, Davis said in the statement. The cause of the fire is under investigation, but Miller said there was nothing to indicate any criminal aspect of the fire.
"Our hearts are with the family," said Lt. Nate Miller. “I understand that the 41-year-old man came back to rescue other family members. After that he was not seen alive. ”
“It is a terrible situation. As a father, I think many of us would think about returning.
Family members identified the family as Juan Moreno, 41, María, 12, and Janessa, 4.
Janessa was described as a daddy's girl who was always "stuck to her hip." Maria, the oldest, was described as an outgoing girl who took care of her younger siblings.
Family members said Juan's wife, Christina, her baby and her 11-year-old daughter, Jaylynn, managed to get out of the fire unharmed. But Isaac, 8, is fighting for his life.
The children's godmother was overwhelmed with emotion after learning that the two girls died in the tragic fire. “My heart hurts for them. They are good children ”, said Keikei Thomas, to NBC Los Angeles.
About 40 residents were forced to leave their homes due to the damage caused by the fire.
A video of the scene showed thick smoke around the complex as Hemet police officers went from door to door to alert residents to leave the building.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
A relative created a GoFundMe account because the father was the only provider of his family of seven, and it will be very difficult for his wife and his surviving children to be able to face the disaster that hit this family.
