The mother and three-year-old daughter remain in the hospital, according to the family’s attorney.

AUSTIN, Texas — A family’s life has been turned upside down as they grapple with the loss of their three children after a deadly fire tore through their apartment unit in southeast Austin on March 11. 

The attorney representing the Lucero family said they’re looking for accountability and a cause of the fire so this tragedy doesn’t fall upon another family. 

On March 17, less than a week after the fire, Austin Fire officials said arson investigators couldn’t determine a cause because of “insufficient evidence,” but said there was no foul play and the department was still investigating. 

KVUE asked AFD about the smoke alarm system. A spokesperson said during the investigation, which is still ongoing, that all apartments that weren’t affected by the fire and were checked out had working smoke alarms. 

They added that both police officers and fire crews reported to hearing alarms when they got to the building that night.

“We will look for all responsible parties, and the investigation is going to focus on that, figuring out how this happened,” said attorney, Matthew Graham.

Graham said they will be sending experts to conduct inspections and evaluations of the apartment unit. 

10-year-old Aniyah Lucero, 7-year-old Athena Lucero and 5-year-old Jeremy Jr. Lucero were killed in the flames. KVUE previously withheld the names of the children out of respect for the family.

Athena and Aniyah were part of the East Austin Sports Teams. The day of the fire, the association and community members came together to honor the family and started a fundraiser.

Graham said, the father, Jeremy, has been grateful for all the support. 

“The Lucero family has lost everything, and it’s going to take time, and it’s going to take work, and it’s going to take patience to get back some semblance of a real, natural, normal life,” said Graham. 

Graham said Lucero suffered burns to 50% of his body and was released from the hospital this week. His wife and three-year-old daughter remain in the hospital. 

She suffered burns to 60% of her body, according to Graham. 


“This should not have happened”

Graham recounted Lucero’s experience from the moment he woke up to the smell of smoke – to the moment he lost consciousness and woke to find his children had perished. 

“[Jeremy] immediately knew he had to get his family out of there and went downstairs to the extent that he could, and then turned around and came back up,” said Graham as he described the tragic incident from the father’s point of view.

The family slept on the second story, and had lived at the apartment complex for roughly two years.

Graham said the firm will work gradually until there is some closure and peace for the Lucero family.