Twin Boys Die in House Fire on Brandon’s Foxwood Drive

For more, read, "Updated Report on 'Horrible' Brandon Fire That Cost 2 Toddlers Their Lives." The report below has been updated to noted that the home's owner was the boys' great aunt and that she was at home at the time of the fire.

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A house fire in Brandon led to the death of twin 2-year-old boys who reportedly were in the home without the knowledge of the owners or bystanders.

Rishaw and Richie Edwards, who turned 2 on June 18, were prounounced dead after being transported to the hospital, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.

Hillsborough County Fire Rescue Emergency reported receiving word of the fire, at 101 Foxwood Dr., shortly after midnight Thursday, Sept. 15.

Firefighters arriving on the scene reportedly found a single-story residence engulfed in heavy smoke, with fire already extended into the roof.

According to the fire report, “initial reports from bystanders were that all occupants were out of the building and accounted for.”

But Fire Rescue crews aggressively battling the fire reportedly found the Edwards twins in the back of the house; upon their discovery, resuscitation efforts began immediately.

According to the sheriff’s report, the home’s owner, Linda Morgan, 51, and her fiancé, Elmer Morales, 60, had left the home, unharmed, by the time fire officials arrived.

“When the call was originally received the homeowner stated that everyone was out of the house,” the report notes. “After the fire was extinguished, members of County fire discovered two male children, 2-year-old twins, that had been sleeping in a back bedroom.”

The fire report notes that the children were transported “to area hospitals in grave condition, where they were later pronounced dead.”

The homeowner is the children’s great aunt, and “she did not know the children were in the house,” according to the sheriff’s report. “The children’s mother sometimes stays at that residence and had apparently come over after the aunt and her fiancé had gone to bed and were sleeping. The mother put the children to bed and then left the house.”

The children’s mother has been identified as Jaimey Sims, 19.

About 24 firefighters reportedly tackled the fire and brought it under control within about 10 minutes.

The incident is being investigated by the State Fire Marshal's office, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue and the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.