February 17, 2016 - A house fire ended in tragedy Wednesday, February 17, 2016 when a two-year-old perished in it.
The Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department along with the DeSoto Parish Fire Department were dispatched at 12:40pm to a mobile home fire on FM 3082 less than 1 mile from SH 7 West in the Lone Cedar Community.
According to a press release from the Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department, units arrived to find a mobile home fully involved with fire, and learned that a two-year old girl was still inside. The child's mother and a five-year old boy were home at the time of the fire and were able to escape. Due to the rapidly moving fire, efforts to rescue the child were unsuccessful.
The mother was transported by ACE EMS to Nacogdoches Medical Center -Center Emergency Department and later life flighted to the Texas Burn Center at UTMB in Galveston. The extent of her injuries are unknown at this time.
An inquest of the two-year old who perished was performed by Justice of the Peace PCT 3 Margie Anderson. The child was taken into the care of Watson and Sons Funeral Home, Center, Texas.
Also responding to the scene was Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy Shad Sparks and Investigator Chris King. The cause of the fire is unknown and is under investigation by the Sheriff's Department and the Texas State Fire Marshal's Office.
The name of the family has not been released at this time.
