Girl, 6, and Brother, 3, Die in Mobile Home Fire. Dad Was Seriously Injured Trying to Save Them

Two young children died in a mobile home fire at a Georgia trailer park, while their father remains hospitalized.

On Sunday, Dec. 14, firefighters from all Union County Fire Department stations — including career and volunteer crews — responded to reports of a structure fire at a Warren Trailer Park mobile home in Union County, Ga., according to the Union County Fire Department.

When crews arrived, officials said the single-wide mobile home was already fully engulfed, with the roof collapsed. In a social media statement, the department said “firefighters performed an aggressive attack to control the blaze” as children were still inside.

Residents Dominick Spaulding and his wife, Shyla, managed to escape with their 4-year-old daughter, Delilah. Their other two children — Ophelia, 6, and Dominick, 3 — died in the fire.

“We arrived on the scene, and it was a fully involved mobile home,” Union County Fire and Rescue Chief David Dyer told Atlanta ABC affiliate WSB-TV 2. “They [the parents] made an attempt, but they couldn’t get back in to get the other kids out.”

According to a GoFundMe created on behalf of the family, Dominick, Shyla and Delilah were treated in the burn unit at Atlanta’s Grady Memorial Hospital. Shyla and Delilah have since been discharged and are staying with friends. Dominick suffered second-degree burns during his effort to reach the children, WSB-TV 2 reported.

“It’s just devastating,” Shannon Burch, Dominick’s mother, told he outlet after driving from Florida to Blairsville to be with her family. “We’re all very heartbroken. It’s just devastating.”

“They’re gonna need a lot of help, so if anyone can help, we’d appreciate it,” she added.

Authorities said the cause of the fire has not been confirmed. The Union County Fire Department, Union County Sheriff’s Office and the State Fire Marshal’s Office are continuing to investigate.

In the meantime, Dyer urged residents to ensure smoke alarms are working and to use extra caution when operating space heaters.