2008 Woodie Awards
Fire destroys students' home, injures family
Nika Megino
Issue date: 3/11/05 Section: News
- Page 1 of 2 next >
|
Antonia Marquez, 65, suffered from smoke inhalation and second-and-third-degree burns after attempting to save her grandchild from the home of her son, Jesse Marquez, and his wife, Sabrina Marquez.
She was initially admitted to Dameron Hospital in Stockton after the incident. A few days later, she was taken to the UC Davis Medical Center, said Sabrina Marquez. "My mother-in-law is doing better," said Marquez. "My husband goes to see her every day. He's at the hospital every day."
The fire occurred between noon and 1 p.m. It originated in a bedroom of the rented home, where the three Marquez children were playing. Antonia Marquez was in the living room of family's home when the fire broke out, Marquez said. Julian, who turns five on March 12, and Alizea, 3, escaped through the back door. Antonia Marquez followed, upon seeing that the children were able to get out of the home, but went back in when she realized that Jessina, 1, was still inside the burning home.
"She went back in to save my baby," Sabrina Marquez explained.
Jessina attempted to escape through the front door, but could not make her way out because of the security door, Marquez said. The youngest child was saved by firefighters of the Stockton Fire Department. Antonia Marquez was found collapsed and unconscious a few feet behind the child when the firefighters arrived.
The children were admitted to St. Joseph's hospital in Stockton for smoke inhalation but were released that same night, said Marquez.