Five children may be dead after a mobile home became engulfed in flames outside of Houston, TX, on Tuesday, USA Today reported.
Eight people were trapped inside the home when went up in flames at about 5 a.m., according to County Sheriff A.J. Louderback. At least a mother, father and one child were able to escape to safety.
The father was identified as Johnny Hernandez Jr., 30, and the father was named as Annabel Ortiz, 32, and their 2-year-old son Johnny Hernandez III, otherwise known as "3J."
Two of the survivors were treated at a hospital 100 miles away, while Ortiz was treated at an area hospital.
Noah Ortiz, 15, led his high school football team to an area championship on Friday before he died in the fire.
"The timing of this incident is unbelievable, especially with Thanksgiving being this week," O'Connor told the Herald-Tribune.
Two girls, aged 13 and 14, and two girls, ages 5 and 6, were also killed in the fire. Authorities have not officially confirmed the deaths because the entire family hasn't been notified yet.
The Edna Independent School District, where the kids went to school, canceled Tuesday night's basketball games so students could grieve. Counselors will also be offering their help to any upset students.
A group of students from Edna High School are accepting donations from businesses and other volunteers that will go directly to the family members, Jackson News reported.
"We're shocked," Skye Benavides said. "We want to help the family by collecting donations because anything will help."
The case is being investigated by the Texas State Fire Marshal's Office, but a cause of the fire has not been identified yet.
