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ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — A tragic fire over the weekend in Greece, New York, claimed the life of a 19-year-old expectant mother, Kiera Johnson, who was eight months pregnant. In a remarkable turn, doctors managed to save her baby girl, delivering her just in time, family members revealed.
Kiera was one of the two fatalities resulting from the Saturday blaze on Bancroft Drive. Firefighters reported that six individuals, a mix of adults and children, were present in the home when the fire erupted.
According to Kiera’s family, she was a devoted mother whose life centered around her daughter, Zurii. Her daughter marked her third birthday just two days after the incident.
“Kiera’s last Facebook post was a testament to her dedication as a mother, expressing her commitment to doing whatever it takes for her children,” shared Satasia Morley, a relative who considered Kiera more like a sister.
Despite their profound loss, the family honored Zurii’s birthday, focusing on the little girl even as they navigated their own sorrow, said Kiera’s sister, Algeria Johnson.
“She kind of got a sense of what’s going on, but she don’t fully know, because, you know, she’s just a kid,” Algeria said. “But she’s questioning where her mom is.”
Algeria said she is choosing her words carefully when talking with Zurii, trying to reassure her without giving her the full details of how her mother died.
“Yesterday for her birthday, we just made it about her,” Algeria said. “She was, like, really happy.”
Firefighters said Johnson and another relative were found trapped on the second floor of the home. Both were pulled from the house but later died. A third relative remained in critical care at Strong Memorial Hospital, according to the family.
The official cause of the fire remains under investigation. Johnson’s relatives said they heard it may have been electrical.
One relative described the moments before Johnson disappeared from a second-floor window.
“Kiera was at the window, but there was an air conditioner in it,” the relative said. “She put her hand under and she was like, ‘I can’t breathe. Help me.’”
Johnson was due to give birth in just a few weeks. Relatives said doctors were able to deliver her baby girl after the fire.
“They did keep her alive enough to get the baby out of her,” Morley said. “I do have hope and faith that that baby is going to make it.”
Family members said they want the baby to know the mother she will never meet — and they plan to name her Kiera, so her mother’s name and spirit stay with her.
“I want her to know that her mom is very strong,” Morley said. “And she’s an angel. She’s a blessing.”
Algeria has set up a GoFundMe to help with funeral costs and other necessities. The family said they lost everything in the fire and are hoping for help replacing what was lost.