BULLHEAD CITY, AZ – Five children, including four siblings, tragically perished in a house fire in Bullhead City, Arizona, while their father was out doing Christmas shopping, officials reported. The blaze erupted Saturday evening in the foyer area of the two-story duplex and quickly spread upstairs via the only staircase, trapping the children inside. Investigators have yet to determine the cause of the fire.
The individual who reported the incident to the authorities said he had been out of the residence for approximately 2.5 hours. At this time, the Bullhead City Police Department is asking anyone who may have photos or videos of the fire to step forward for assistance in the ongoing investigation.
The devastating incident has shaken the Colorado River neighborhood near the Nevada border. Bullhead City Mayor Steve D’Amico noted the significant turnout of public sympathy, with flowers, stuffed animals, and candles appearing in front of the affected property.
While official identifications are pending from the Mohave County Medical Examiner’s Office, the victims are believed to include a four-year-old girl, her brothers aged two, five, and 13, and an 11-year-old family relative who was visiting.
According to public information officer Lance Ross, from the Bullhead City School District, one of the victims was enrolled in kindergarten at the nearby Desert Valley School.
Upon arrival at the scene, neighbors had attempted rescue efforts and had erected an extension ladder to an upstairs window. According to spokesperson Emily Fromelt, due to the familial link of one of the children and a Bullhead City Fire Department employee, fire investigators from Lake Havasu City Fire Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms have been called to assist with the investigation.
A memorial vigil was planned for Wednesday night at a local park. Friends of the affected families have so far raised over $11,000 to assist with funeral expenses. Authorities are working to discover the cause of the fire and provide closure for the grieving families.