CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. – Six people, including four children, have died and two others remain in hospital after a three-alarm house fire in North Chesterfield early Friday morning, according to firefighters.
“Unfortunately, the Chesterfield Fire Marshals office was informed late last night that another child had died as a result of injuries sustained in this fire,” firefighters said Saturday morning.
The four children killed ranged in age from 2 to 12 years old, according to firefighters.
Later on Saturday afternoon, officials said another adult, a woman, had died from her injuries.
A grandmother died at home on Friday morning, sources told Crime Insider Jon Burkett.
“This tragic incident has now resulted in six deaths, two adult women and four children,” officials said.
WTVR
Family friend: children were ‘the most beautiful souls’
Two GoFundMe pages have been started to help the families affected by the fire.
Cadence Johnson helped organize one of the pages for the mother of two of the deceased children.
“To help her, to help the family in need,” Johnson said. “To bury the kids, to help with the bills, because they will be out of work, so we wanted to start with that.”
Johnson fondly remembered the children.
“They were the most beautiful souls,” she said. They would say what was on their mind. They were just happy children, they loved to sing and dance. ‘
Another online family fundraiser has also been created.
WTVR
Burkett: 9 people were in the house when the fire started
A neighbor called 911 just after 12:10 p.m. to report a fire at a house in 9900 block of Glass Road, according to Chesterfield County firefighters. The property is located in the Mayfair Estates allotment near the intersection of Courthouse and Hull Street roads.
When firefighters arrived, they were told that several people were trapped in the two-story house and went into rescue mode, according to Chesterfield Fire and EMS Chief Loy Senter. Nine people were in the house when the fire started, Burkett said.
“Firefighters immediately began searching the first floor, assisted by the second and third oncoming engine firms, while simultaneously deploying an aggressive attack on the main body of the fire,” Senter said during a Friday morning briefing.
A second and third alarm was issued due to the large number of people trapped in them.
@CColeburnTV, WTVR
Fire Chief: Several victims found on the 2nd floor
Senter said crews saw severe fires on the first floor in front of the house with “high heat and heavy smoking conditions on the first and second floors.”
“Several other victims were on the second floor and were removed by firefighters using ladders at the back of the house,” Senter said.
Witnesses said they saw firefighters perform CPR on one person and also saw a boy pull out of the burning house.
Senter said one person died on the spot and eight others were taken to hospitals in the area. Since then, five more people have died, including a woman and four children.
Two other victims remained in hospital on Saturday, officials said.
“We think we’re dealing with the blended family here,” Senter explained. “And so we’re trying to make sure we have the right person, the age, and a lot more needs to be done as part of the research to get that information out.”
The cause of the fire, which probably started in a bedroom, is still being investigated.
Officials said they do not suspect foul play.
“Because it is an active investigation, there will be some information that cannot be released at this time,” Senter said. “Our hearts go out to the families so deeply affected by this tragedy.”
This is a story in development, so anyone with more information can email [email protected] to send a tip.