A Prince George’s County family had the daunting task of burying two young girls who lost their lives in a house fire.
The fire started in the early hours of Jan. 19 in the 4700 block of 40th Avenue in Hyattsville, Md. Two sisters who lived in the home were trapped in that fire.
Firefighters said they found 9-year-old Kimberly Hernandez downstairs; her older sister, Kelli, 13, was upstairs. Both were suffering from cardiac arrest and burns.
Kimberly was rushed to Children’s Hospital, where she later died that morning. Kelli was taken to a Baltimore trauma center. She passed away several days later.
The girls’ parents and two other sisters who were inside at the time of the fire -- a four-year-old and Kelli’s twin sister -- were also taken to a hospital for smoke-related injuries.
On Monday a public funeral was held for the girls at St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Cheverly, Md.
Over the weekend, county leaders held a benefit event to help the family during this difficult time.
The fire caused more than $300,000 in damage. Investigators said the fire was accidental but have not elaborated on what may have caused it.
If you want to help the family, the Hyattsville Community Development Corporation (a 501 C3 tax-exempt organization) has established a TAX DEDUCTIBLE donation fund for the Zelaya family.
You can donate two ways:
Send a check made out to “Hyattsville CDC” addressed to:
Treasurer
Hyattsville Community Development Corporation
5004 42nd Avenue
Hyattsville, MD 20781
(please reference “Zelaya Family Relief Fund” in subject line)
By PayPal at www.hycdc.org
(please reference “Zelaya Family Relief Fund” in dialogue comment box)
