Car Wash In Plant City Sunday To Raise Funds For Lithia Fire Victims

PLANT CITY, FL — A benefit car wash will take place Sunday, April 23 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the O’Reilly Auto Parts at 1704 James L Redman Pkwy in Plant City to benefit the victims of a mobile home fire in Lithia that killed a 22-year-old father, a 5-year-old boy and a 14-month-old girl on April 17.

Hillsborough County Fire Rescue was called to the fire at 1:02 p.m. after 22-year-old Veronica Bermudez called 911 to report that her family's mobile home was engulfed in flames and her fiancé and two of her children were still inside.

Bermudez' cousin, Suzette Peña, said the family was napping when the fire broke out. Three-year-old Elijah Lopez woke his mother to alert her to the fire. Peña said Bermudez led the 3-year-old out of the mobile home and thought her fiancé was behind her with her other two children.

When she realized they hadn't emerged from the home, she attempted to go back inside but suffered burns to her hands.

When firefighters arrived, they, too, attempted to go inside the mobile home to rescue the three family members but the roof of the mobile home collapsed and the firefighters were driven back by intense flames and heat.

Related: Fire Kills Father, 5-Year-Old, 14-Month-Old Children In Lithia

Fire crews sprayed the fire to extinguish some of the flames before so they could attempt another rescue. Team members located Angel Lopez Sr., carried him out and attempted to resuscitate him but were unable to save him.

Meanwhile, firefighters found 5-year-old Angel Lopez Jr. and 14-month-old Harmony Lopez dead inside the mobile home. Hillsborough fire rescue hasn't released the cause of the fire.

"This scene has all of our responders shaken," said Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister. "Losing three lives, especially two children, is a tragedy beyond words. Nothing prepares you for scenes like this. My heart is heavy with sadness for the family and the community."

Bermudez and her son, Elijah, were taken to the hospital to be treated for their injuries.

Peña said the young mother and her remaining child have lost everything.

Peña has set up a GoFundMe page to help raise funds for the funeral expenses for the three fire victims, replace the family's belongings lost in the fire and help the mother and son get established in a new home. As of Sunday morning, $19,306 had been donated to the fund.

"I'm doing this with a broken heart," she said. "We are asking for the community to come together and help with clothes for her and her baby that came out alive and all funeral expenses for her three angels that have gained their wings in a home fire."

Peña is also accepting donations of clothing for the 3-year-old who wears a size 3T or 4T. Anyone with donations can contact her at 813-479-8249.