LITHIA, Fla. -The sheriff says that a three-year-old boy woke up a married couple who were sleeping in a mobile home in Lithia on Monday after a fire broke out inside. The couple had been napping. The house was on fire, and police said that two small children were among the three people who died.
The sheriff’s office reported that three family members died in the fire: 22-year-old father and husband Angel Lopez, their 5-year-old son Angel Jr., and their daughter Harmony, who was 14 months old.
Veronica Bermudez, who is 22 years old, and her 3-year-old son, Elijah, were able to get away.
“The last thing she remembers is turning around and seeing her husband with their other two children,” the sheriff said. “They never made it to the outside.”
A house near the 8600 block of Pritcher Road is where the fire investigation is taking place. Sheriff Chronister says that the mother called 911 at 1 p.m. and said that her husband and two children were still inside.
The Hillsborough County deputy got there before the fire crews, but the scene made him feel “helpless,” according to the sheriff. He also couldn’t find a safe way in because of the flames.
Sheriff Chronister said that when firemen came, the roof had fallen in, but they went into the house anyway. When they brought the father outside, they saw that he was already dead.
Inside the rest of the house, it was too dangerous to look for the children. After the fire was put out, their bodies were found.
The reason of the fire is still being looked into. The mother and son were taken to Tampa General Hospital just to be safe, but they were not hurt.
