Family mourns man killed in Jacksonville apartment fire, mother of three escapes with children

Family members identified the victim from Sunday’s fire in the St. Nicholas area as 23-year-old Linton Alejandro Munguía Martínez.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A family is mourning the loss of a loved one after a deadly apartment fire over the weekend in Jacksonville, while also trying to rebuild after losing everything.

The fire happened just after 4 a.m. Sunday at the Landon Imperial Apartments on Art Museum Drive, according to Jacksonville Fire Rescue. Investigators with the State Fire Marshal’s Office are still working to determine what caused the fire.

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Among those impacted is Sandra Martínez, a mother of three, who escaped the flames with her children but lost her home and a close family member.

“She can’t talk right now,” a neighbor said, translating for Martínez as she became emotional recounting the fire. “She needs time.”

Martínez said the fire started in the kitchen.

“It was on fire, everything,” she said.

Neighbors helped translate as Martinez described the chaotic moments. She said she realized the fire had spread and rushed to save her children.

“She opened the window, yelling for help, then grabbed her three kids,” the translator said.

But not everyone made it out.

Family members identified the deceased victim as 23-year-old Linton Alejandro Munguía Martínez. Relatives said he was both a cousin and a close friend of the family.

“He was the only one helping her,” the translator said, explaining that Martinez’s husband is in Honduras and that Munguía Martínez was a primary source of support for the family.

In the aftermath, the woman said she lost everything.

“Her bed, clothes, her baby’s things,” the translator said.

Now out of work, Martínez is caring for her three children, a 3-month-old, a 6-year-old and a 9-year-old, while trying to figure out their next steps. The family says they are in need of housing, clothing and baby supplies.

Meanwhile, Munguía Martínez’s brother is working to raise money to send his body back to Honduras for burial. That GoFundMe can be found here.

Despite the loss, the family says support from the community has made a difference. 

“Thanks to all the people that are helping,” the translator said.

The Martínez family also has a GoFundMe organized by Kim Bogart who runs the nonprofit Kim’s Open Door. You can click here for more information.

Jacksonville Fire Rescue called the incident a tragedy and said its thoughts are with the families affected.