The morning of November 24 a distress call was made about a double mobile home on fire. Where five people were living inside sleeping after parting the night before.
Screams were heard from outside, says a neighbor. “I was inside when I heard loud screams coming from outside, so I checked the doorbell footage and saw smoke coming out the house.” Ashley exclaimed.
There was a lady on the phone, who has now been identified as Marisol Ross Lopez, screaming into her phone to try to get someone over. She was pacing back and forth trying to figure out what was happening.
That’s when someone ran out of the house after escaping from a window covered in ash from the fire. In a moment of instinct one of the victims rushed into action trying to save his uncle who was stuck inside. After trying he would come out with burns and blood for the fire that was growing and spreading onto the next home.
The next home started to rush into action taking people out of the home and moving their cars as far from the fire as possible, trying to avoid another big “explosion” from the car. As the mobile homes cars were already popping from the extreme flame coming from the house. That’s when the firefighters came and started to put out the fire, as it was already spreading to the other house. Police started to back people up from disturbing the work being done, and blocked off streets and homes.
In minutes a situation they thought not to be so tragic turned tragic. As during the fire only 3 people managed to escape with severe burns on their body. Which were immediately taken to the hospital. Yet two unknown victims were still stuck inside.
Police blocked off the entrance and detectives and forensic officers took the floor. Talking to families and taking photos.
After a long day the house was fenced off until investigation was done and it would be safe to enter again.
The grieving family and friends set up a memorial for our two victims. They did a “Rosario” which in English means holy rosary, it is meant to help guide the spirits to peace and good, this is where family’s and friends get together and pray for 9 days. “So many people came out to grieve and pray for these young men” stated a Martha
About 3 days after this tragic moment a suspect was identified and it was now being seen as a murder. Suspect Joel Hernandez Anaya was in custody being interviewed. During that interview, Anaya told the detective that he was under the influence of cocaine and methamphetamine during the time of the accident. And stated that his clothes were wrecking and he took them off and poured gasoline over them in the living room, then had gone outside to water plants when he noticed black smoke coming from inside the house. He reportedly helped one of the victims escape and remained at the scene. It is said that it was his intention to set the fire and death.
As the night before the fire neighbors stated they heard arguing between to people and that one person stated “You’ll see fu***r” to another. The night before it was also reported that a couple got into a discussion and it ended in one partner slashing another partner’s ties in their truck. Having gone to sleep so late after their party they were all asleep when the fire started.
Detectives and officers say he is being charged with many things such as manslaughter and attempted manslaughter.
As of now no other information has been released to the public. Leaving us to really think how all of this happened. During this moment the firefighters expressed the importance of smoke alarms and fire safety.
What I’m concerned about is the safety inside the home, 5 men living in a small 2 bedroom home. What are more dangers that could have been accorded. When talking to Officer Romano he stated “There’s a reason why apartment complexes and places like that only allow you to have a current amount of people, compared to how many bedrooms it is and the square footage”.
Many questions unsaid and many questions unanswered.
