PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. – The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Friday that an 18-month-old child has died after being hospitalized since last month following a fire that killed four others.
The sheriff’s office also said the state fire marshal determined the fire was electrical. The medical examiner ruled the deaths accidental, concluding the investigation.
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Four other family members who died were identified as Carolina Gomez, 27; brothers Fernando Hernandez Mendez, 31, and Enrique Hernandez Mendez, 33; and 4-year-old Angel Enrique Diaz Perez.
Gomez’s 7-year-old daughter, Elizabeth, was hospitalized after the fire on Maryland Avenue in East Palatka on May 12.
Deputies said Elizabeth managed to escape from the home and ran to a neighbor’s house, alerting them to call 911.
Family members told officials that the 7-year-old stayed home from school that day because of a medical appointment scheduled for later that morning.
One Putnam County firefighter was also injured in the fire but was expected to be OK, the Palatka Fire Department said.
The Hernandez family, who lived in the home, told News4JAX that six people were inside when the fire broke out.
The property owner told News4JAX she’s been renting to them for almost 10 years and is now trying to find someone who can help the family as they deal with this tragedy.
For those who would like to donate and help the family with their medical expenses, a GoFundMe can be found here. So far it has raised nearly $18,000.