GALVESTON, Texas – Two children died at the hospital after a fire broke out inside a two-story home in Galveston early Saturday, firefighters said.
According to Galveston Assistant Chief R. Pearson, over 20 firefighters responded at around 2:35 a.m. at the intersection of 21st Street and Avenue K.
A father and two children were inside. Fire Chief Olsen said the father woke up and saw heavy smoke, then ran out as soon as firefighters arrived.
NEW: Three military members tried crawling into a window of the home, while it was on fire, told by police to stop because it was too dangerous. @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/VhvVIyXCwQ
— Rilwan Balogun (@KPRC2Rilwan) April 30, 2022
Warren Mies, a navy veteran who lives behind the home told KPRC 2′s Rilwan Balogun that his neighbor banged on his door alerting him to the fire. He and his friends, who are Army veterans, attempted to crawl inside to rescue the children, but authorities at the scene told them to step back.
“[The neighbor] yelled, ‘call for help the house is on fire. The kids are inside,’” he said, “Trying to get inside the window because we asked my neighbor, ‘what room are the kids in?’ He told us they were in the back bedroom.”
The children, who are both under the age of 5, were rescued from the home by firefighters. They were taken to UTMB Hospital in Galveston where they later died.
The children’s mother came back 20 minutes later, according to Mies. He recalled seeing her “the way she was screaming,” when she arrived.
At this time, the cause of the fire is under investigation by Galveston Fire Marshal and Arson.