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The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office says a 1-year-old, 7-year-old and an adult woman were taken to the hospital. A firefighter sustained minor injuries.
PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. — The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that a 4-year-old was killed in a fire at a mobile home on Maryland Avenue in East Palatka Monday morning. The child died at the hospital.
Two adult males were found dead inside the home when firefighters arrived. A 4-year-old later died at the hospital.
PCSO says two other children, a 1-year-old and a 7-year-old and an adult woman were taken to UF Health Shands for injuries.
Earlier Monday, Putnam County Fire Rescue said a firefighter was taken to the hospital after sustaining minor injuries.
Officials called the fire “heavily involved,” meaning the fire spread extensively and engulfed a large portion of the home.
Concerned neighbors and emotional family members stood behind police tape and watched as emergency crews responded to the mobile home fire on Maryland Avenue on Monday morning.
“I saw a paramedic bring out a baby and he had her up close and she wasn’t moving or crying or anything,” said one neighbor, “I didn’t know what it was till I looked over and seen all the black smoke.”
Putnam County Fire Marshal, Clu Wright tells First Coast News, while they are still investigating the cause of the fire, they know it started in the foyer.
“That’s where the most of the damage was,” said Wright, “We haven’t pinned it to a specific area but the area the most fire was in.”
Alice Crews is the landlord of this property and she said she’s known the family who lived in the home for almost 10 years.
“I couldn’t believe it. I came here and of course it was devastating. Terrible tragedy,” said Crews, “They have always been very kind. Very responsible people. Just really good people of the community.”
Now crews and neighbors are all doing what they can to help this family in a time of need.
“Hopefully with some help we can get them another house,” said Crews.
“Just keep this family in y’all’s prayers because it’s terrible,” said a neighbor.