Two children killed in King City mobile home fire started by heater malfunction
KING CITY, Calif. (KION)
UPDATE 11/9/2020 5:45 p.m.Two children, 2-year-old Destiny Perez Duarte and 1-year-old William Perez Duarte Jr., died in a mobile home fire in King City, and City Manager Steven Adams has provided more details about what happened.
He said a family of seven lived in the mobile home in the 700 block of South First Street, and it appears the fire started in the room where the children were sleeping. Investigators believe the fire was started by an accidental heater malfunction. Everybody was sleeping when the fire started.
Five of the people in the mobile home were able to get out, but firefighters were not able to get inside to save Destiny and William.
There were no smoke alarms at the time the fire started.
UPDATE 11/9/2020 2 p.m. A one-year-old boy and two-year-old girl have died as a result of a mobile home fire in King City.
City Manager Steven Adams said in a statement that the fire department responded to a call about a fire in the 700 block of South First Street at about 12:20 a.m. Saturday, and when they arrived, the mobile home was engulfed in flames.
Crews learned that the two children had not been accounted for and were believed to still be in the mobile home, but firefighters were unable to get inside due to the nature of the fire.
The bodies of the two children, identified as Destiny Perez Duarte and William Perez Duarte Jr., were found inside later. The American Red Cross of the Central Coast is providing assistance to their family.
"Everyone at the City of King organization offers their heartfelt sympathy and condolences to the family regarding this sad and tragic accident. The City is working on identifying potential programs and services available that may help to prevent others in the community from experiencing a similar tragedy in the future," Adams said.
Investigators said the cause of the fire is believed to be an accidental heater malfunction.
PREVIOUS STORY: Two children have died as a result of a mobile home fire in King City, according to police.
The fire happened Friday on South 1st Street. The ages and identities of the children have not been released.
This is a developing story. Keep checking back for updates.
