Moses Lake house fire leaves three dead
A photograph taken of Nadine Driggs and Del Driggs in 2006. Courtesy photo.
Parents may have tried to save children
MOSES LAKE - A house fire on Moon Drive in Moses Lake Saturday left a father and two children dead, the mother and a son injured.
Neighbors reported the white house on fire at 6:43 a.m. Saturday morning. By the time Grant County Fire District No. 5 and Moses Lake Fire Department firefighters arrived, the home was fully engulfed in flames, according to Grant County Emergency Management Director Sam Lorenz.
Firefighters found mother Sara Villarreal and one-year-old Lukas Villarreal severely injured. Lorenz said they were flown to Harborview Medical Center. Lukas Villarreal was released from the hospital and reported to be OK, according to KREM 2.
Neighbors told investigators 28-year-old Daniel Villarreal exited the home with Sara and Lukas, but went back inside of the burning home in an attempt to save two children. Lorenz said Daniel Villarreal died inside along with Dante Beltran, 7, and Natalie Beltran, 5.
Lorenz said investigators suspect Sara Villarreal may have gone back inside the house to retrieve children as indicated by her injuries. She reportedly suffered burns in her throat from breathing super-heated gases in addition to smoke inhalation.
The cause of the fire remains unknown and an investigation is underway, said Lorenz.
Grant County Fire District No. 5, Moses Lake Fire Department, Ephrata Fire Department, Grant County Fire Marshal's Office, Grant County Sheriff's Office, Washington State Patrol worked together on the scene and continue investigating the fire, Lorenz said.
The Grant County Critical Incident Stress Management Team was called upon to help support the responders. The team is to support emergency services when they respond to scenes with severe injuries or fatalities, Lorenz added.
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