By Laura French
BENTON CITY, Wash. — A Washington firefighter lost his wife and three children in a mobile home fire while away battling a wildfire.
Firefighter Raul Garcia-Santos was battling the Palmer Fire four hours away when his wife Marcaria Garcia-Martinez, 32, and their children, Luz Garcia-Martinez, 17, Luis Garcia-Martinez, 15, and Michelle Garcia-Martinez, 6, died in the fire at their home in Benton City on Aug. 27, according to CNN.
All four family members died due to smoke inhalation, according to Benton County Coroner William Leach.
According to Benton County Fire Protection District 2 Chief Ron Duncan, the family’s single-wide trailer was not equipped with smoke detectors. Duncan also said the family had just moved into the trailer that day.
The fire was caused by an overloaded electrical circuit, investigators said.
An online fundraiser was set up to help pay for the family’s funeral expenses.
A neighbor described the scene of the fire to the Tri-City Herald.