A southern California family spent their first Christmas without two little girls who were lost in a Christmas tree fire.
Barstow firefighters were called to the scene shortly before 7 p.m. Dec. 14 after receiving multiple reports of a house fire with children trapped inside, the department said in a social media post.
Charmon and Akeem Isom told FOX 11 Los Angeles they did everything they could to try to save their family before firefighters arrived, but Aalijah Isom, 2, and Annie Isom, 7, were trapped.
“You run, and you try to do as much as you can,” Charmon Isom said. “Make a window, run in, try and get in, try and get under fire. I had (first degree) burns on my leg from trying to get in there.”
Firefighters had to jump through two separate bedroom windows to locate the girls.
They were handed over to police officers who took them to an ambulance, the Barstow Fire Protection District said.
The girls were rushed to a local hospital.
The family said they lost Aalijah for the first time. Annie was flown to a burn center where she was put on life support, but died after a week-long battle when her parents decided to let her go.
The 7-year-old’s organs were donated after his death.
Annie and Aalijah Isom were killed in a fire at their home in Barstow, California on Dec. 14, 2023. Annie and Aalijah Isom/GoFundMe The fire is believed to have been caused by a Christmas tree. YouTube/FOX 11 Los Angeles
A vigil was held for the girls on Saturday, where their father said, “No amount of money, no amount of valuables can bring my children home.”
The family is now raising money to pay for the girl’s funeral and help other family members find a new home. It is believed that the smoke detectors did not work in the missing house.
The Los Angeles Fire Department has a website dedicated to the dangers Christmas trees can pose indoors, as well as safety tips.
Damage to a home after a fatal fire. YouTube/FOX 11 Los Angeles Firefighters had to jump through two separate windows to find the girls. Annie and Aalijah Isom/GoFundMe
“It can take seven years to plant a Christmas tree … and seven seconds for it to go to hell,” the page states.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
