TULARE COUNTY, Calif. (FOX26) — Two kids and one woman were killed in a house fire early Wednesday morning in Porterville.
The City of Porterville says the Porterville Police Department and Porterville Fire Department were called out around 12:35 a.m. for reports of a house fire near Plano Avenue and Harrison Street.
When crews arrived, they found a two-story home with heavy flames seen on both floors.
Firefighters aggressively searched the burning building and found three people inside.
Firefighters believe the victims to be one adult female and two juveniles.
They were all pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators later found out that there were five people in the home when the fire started, and two were able to escape.
The fire is still being investigated.
Fire Chief Bryan Cogburn offered the following statement:
This is a heartbreaking loss for our community. On behalf of the Porterville Fire Department, I extend our deepest condolences to the family, loved ones, and all those impacted by this tragedy. Our firefighters faced extremely challenging conditions and did everything possible. We are keeping the survivors, the victims’ families, and our crews in our thoughts during this incredibly difficult time.
Porterville Mayor Greg Meister issued the following statement:
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Moments like this remind us how precious life is and how important it is to cherish the time we have with one another. As a community, we must come together to uplift and support those who are grieving. In times of such deep loss, it is my belief only God can fill the void and bring comfort where words fall short. I want to sincerely thank our Porterville firefighters, police officers, and first responders who courageously answered the call. They did everything possible to save lives and to contain the fire under incredibly difficult circumstances. We are grateful for their dedication and service. Please keep this family and our first responders in your prayers as Porterville mourns together.