PALM BAY, Fla. – A mother and two of her children died after a fire broke out early Friday at a Palm Bay condo complex, where one unit was fully engulfed in flames, according to firefighters.
Firefighters responded just before 1 a.m. to Country Gardens condominiums, located along Sunny Brook Lane off Babcock Street.
John Ringleb, assistant fire chief with Palm Bay Fire Rescue, said they received a 911 call that a family was trapped inside a unit when the fire broke out.
Ringleb said a 10-year-old died at the scene and two others were taken to the hospital, a 5-year-old and the children’s 32-year-old mother. The 5-year-old later died at the hospital.
On Saturday, Palm Bay fire officials confirmed that the mother also died.
[STORY CONTINUES BELOW]
He also said there was a 15-year-old inside the home who was able to safely get out of the unit.
“When they (firefighters) arrived on scene, they did experience very heavy fire conditions. With the weather that we’ve been having over the last couple of nights, this was a challenging fire,” Ringleb said. “It was what we call a wind-driven fire.”
The fire did not spread to the surrounding units, but Ringleb said one unit adjacent to the unit where the fire broke out was displaced because the power went out.
Gary Gadpaille is one of the adjacent neighbors.
“Thank goodness for my neighbors who came banging on the door and woke me up out of a dead sleep,” he told News 6 reporter James Sparvero. “They’re actually the neighbors that live directly under the condo unit that was engulfed in flames.”
Gadpaille said he’s now grieving over what happened to the children.
“They were good people, and the little kids don’t deserve that,” he said. “I just hope that everybody is saying a prayer for them, for the survivors, ‘cause it’s still touch and go for mom right now.”
Palm Bay Fire Rescue, Brevard County Fire Rescue, Melbourne Fire Department and the Malabar Fire Department responded to the scene.
The state fire marshal is investigating to determine the cause of the fire.
A GoFundMe account has been established to help assist the family.
GoFundMe also confirmed to News 6 that a neighbor set up an account to assist with expenses.
In addition, the sister of the woman who died set up a GoFundMe to help with funeral expenses. To donate, click here.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: