EAST PALATKA, Fla. — Two men and a child are dead after a house fire engulfed their Putnam County mobile home Monday morning, according to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office.
Three more people were taken to a hospital, including a baby.
The fire destroyed the home on North Maryland Avenue in East Palatka.
According to the Putnam County Sheriff’s office, they received a call around 8:50 a.m. about a fire at a mobile home with multiple people inside.
Action News Jax has learned that the home is being rented by the Hernandez family. When the fire broke out, officials said six members of the family were inside.
Action News Jax confirmed with the family that the people inside the home were Carolina Gomez and brothers Fernando and Enrique Hernandez. The two men died, according to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office.
Three children were inside, which family identified as 7-year-old Eliza Hernandez, 4-year-old Angel Hernandez, and a baby.
Officials said the 4-year-old died at the hospital, but the 7-year-old managed to escape the fire on her own and get to a neighbor’s house.
According to the Hernandez family, Eliza and the baby are Carolina and Fernando’s children. Police said the mother was transported by ground to a trauma center, and the baby was transported by air ambulance.
Officials told Action News Jax the two remained in life-threatening condition Monday night.
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Putnam County Emergency Services Deputy Chief and Fire Marshal Clu Wright said that the fire started in the foyer. The cause is still under investigation.
Scott Moore was down the street when the fire first broke out. He said the entire situation was just unbelievable.
“I just heard a firefighter ran out with a child, it was just crazy,” said Moore. “He (the child) just didn’t look like he was moving at all.”
Alice Crews is the landlord for the family and has known them for 10 years. She says she couldn’t believe this happened to them.
“They have always been very kind, very responsible people,” said Crews. ”Just really, good people of the community.”
The State Fire Marshal’s office is taking the lead on the investigation and working to determine a cause. The Putnam County Sheriff’s office is assisting.
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