A mother and her child died in a Saturday morning house fire at 99 High Street, while another child remains in guarded condition after being pulled out of the burning house by firefighters.
All three members were brought out of the house with severe injuries by firefighters who braved heavy fire and smoke to reach them, but the mother and one of the children later died of their injuries at Strong Memorial Hospital.
Authorities haven’t confirmed it, but neighbors told media they were Virginia Ortiz, and her son, 6-year-old Willie Nelson, Jr.
The fire was reported shortly after 5:20 Saturday morning in a two-and-a-half story house at 99 High Street, near the corner of Goodman Street. Four people got out on their own, three of them suffering less serious injuries. Three firefighters were taken to the hospital with various injuries.
There was a working smoke detector in the home.
More than ten trucks eventually responded. The fire was reported knocked down at about 6:05. The cause remains under investigation.