DETROIT (WXYZ) — A GoFundMe has been set up for the two young girls who died as a result of a house fire in Detroit earlier this week.
Leslie Smith, a close friend of the family started the GoFundMe to help the family pay for funeral expenses after these two young girls died from their injuries after a house fire Tuesday morning.
“To have two little babies pass away, the family is struggling,” Smith said.
Smith says she's still struggling to understand why two young girls, Heaven and Angel – ages 9 and 5 respectively – were taken away far too young.
“These are angels," Smith said. "These are babies and gone too soon and they need to be laid to rest accordingly.”
The fire happened Tuesday morning in the 8600 block of Pierson in Detroit. The mother and stepfather managed to escape. The stepfather went to the back of the home and broke a window and was able to save the girls' 6-year-old brother. Heaven’s aunt is still struggling with the loss.
“They were just wonderful kids and I have three children and they’re older and grown, but my niece was like my daughter,” said Tawanna Dean, Heaven’s aunt.
Detroit Fire Deputy Commissioner Dave Fornell says the girls both went into cardiac arrest. First responders were able to revive Angel, but Heaven did make it. Angel went into a coma and died just hours later at the hospital.
“We’re all trying to do what we have to do and it’s hard on my brother," Dean said. "He’s just not doing well at all. We’re just trying to do everything we can to take the burden off of him."
Smith says a vigil was held for the two girls and they both deserve a proper funeral.
“They both deserve to be buried and laid away like the princesses that they are and to be shown love,” Smith said.
Heaven would have turned 10 on July 8.
The cause of the fire is still unknown. If you’d like to help out, we’ve posted a link here.
