TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Hillsborough County first responders are investigating after a mobile home fire left three dead and two injured Monday afternoon.
According to Hillsborough County Fire Rescue officials, emergency crews were called to a home near the intersection of Pritcher Road and Pritcher Manor Court in Lithia around 1:02 p.m.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said they arrived 12 minutes later to find 22-year-old Veronica Bermudez with her 3-year-old son Elijah Lopez outside the home engulfed in flames.
HCSO said a family was asleep in a bedroom when the 3-year-old boy told his mother that the stove was on fire.
The family evacuated as quickly as possible but the home was engulfed in flames very quickly, Sheriff Chad Chronister said. The sheriff’s office said that the mother of three sustained burns to her hands and singed her hair after attempting to rescue the rest of her family from the fire.
HCSO said the father, 22-year-old Angel Lopez Sr., was trapped with his two children, 5-year-old Angel Lopez Jr. and 14-month-old Harmony Lopez, and was overwhelmed by the flames.
Officials said the heat from the blaze prevented firefighters from getting within 20 feet of the fire.
Deputies said the structure collapsed, preventing any more help.
Officials said they were finally cleared to go inside and grabbed Lopez Sr. They said they tried to perform life-saving measures on him but were unsuccessful.
The other two children were found in the rubble.
The mother of the children and the 3-year-old were taken to Tampa General Hospital for treatment. They are listed in stable condition.
“This scene has all of our responders shaken,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement. “Losing three lives, especially two children, is a tragedy beyond words. Nothing prepares you for scenes like this. My heart is heavy with sadness for the family and the community.”
Investigators said they are still working to learn how the fire started and why it spread so quickly.
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