Father, 2 children found dead following Lithia mobile home fire
LITHIA, Fla. - A married couple at a Lithia mobile home were napping Monday afternoon when their three-year-old son woke them up after a fire started inside, according to the sheriff. Flames had taken over the home and officials said three members of the family died, including two small children.
The sheriff's office confirmed that three members of the family died in the fire: father and husband 22-year-old Angel Lopez, the couple's 5-year-old son, Angel, Jr., and their 14-month-old daughter, Harmony.
Harmony Lopez, 14 months; Veronica Bermudez, 22; Angel Lopez, 22; Angel Lopez, Jr., 5; Elijah Lopez, 3
Mother and wife, 22-year-old Veronica Bermudez, and their 3-year-old son, Elijah, were able to escape.
*Sheriff Chad Chronister previously stated during a press conference that Angel and two daughters died in the fire.
"The last thing she remembers is turning around and seeing her husband with her other two children," the sheriff said. "They never made it outside."
The fire investigation is taking place at a home near the 8600 block of Pritcher Road. According to Sheriff Chronister, the mother dialed 911 around 1 p.m., providing information that her husband and two children remained inside.
A Hillsborough County deputy arrived before fire units, but the sight made him feel "helpless," the sheriff described, adding that the law enforcement officer couldn't find a safe entry point due to the flames.
When firefighters arrived, the roof collapsed, but they entered the home anyway, Sheriff Chronister described. They found the father and brought him outside, realizing he had already passed away.
The conditions inside the rest of the home made it unsafe to search for the children. Their bodies were found after the fire was extinguished.
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The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The mother and son were taken to Tampa General Hospital as a precaution but were otherwise uninjured.
This story is developing. Check back for updates.