Two children, ages 6 and 3, died in a mobile home fire at Warren Trailer Park in Union County, Georgia, on Dec. 14. Their parents escaped with a 4-year-old daughter, but the father remains hospitalized with second-degree burns after attempting to rescue the children. Fire crews arrived to find the home fully engulfed with the roof collapsed; investigations by local authorities and the State Fire Marshal are ongoing. The community has organized a GoFundMe to support the family’s medical and recovery needs.
Two Children Killed in Georgia Trailer Park Blaze; Father Severely Burned After Rescue Attempt
GoFundMe (2)Ophelia (left), Dominick Spaulding
Two young children died after a mobile home fire at the Warren Trailer Park in Union County, Georgia, on Dec. 14. Their father remains hospitalized with serious burns after trying to rescue them, officials said.
Firefighters from every Union County Fire Department station — including career and volunteer crews — responded to reports of a structure fire that Sunday evening. Crews arrived to find the single-wide mobile home fully involved and the roof already collapsed. The department said crews performed an aggressive attack to control the blaze while children were still inside the residence.
The residents have been identified as parents Dominick and Shyla Spaulding and their children. Dominick and Shyla escaped the fire with their 4-year-old daughter, Delilah. Tragically, their other two children — 6-year-old Ophelia and 3-year-old Dominick — were later found to have died in the blaze.
GoFundMeOphelia Spaulding
Union County Fire and Rescue Chief David Dyer told WSB-TV that firefighters arrived to a home already engulfed and that the parents had tried to re-enter the structure but could not reach the other children. A GoFundMe set up for the family says Dominick, Shyla and Delilah were treated in the burn unit at Atlanta’s Grady Memorial Hospital. Shyla and Delilah have since been discharged and are staying with friends, while Dominick sustained second-degree burns and remains hospitalized.
“It’s just devastating,” said Shannon Burch, Dominick’s mother, who traveled from Florida to be with the family. She asked the community for support as the family begins to recover and grieve.
The Union County Fire Department, the Union County Sheriff’s Office and the State Fire Marshal’s Office are continuing their investigation into the cause of the fire; no official cause has been released. Authorities urged residents to ensure working smoke alarms are installed in their homes and to exercise caution when using space heaters or other portable heating devices this winter.
Community Support: Neighbors and local organizations have launched fundraisers to assist with medical bills and recovery. The family’s GoFundMe page and other local aid efforts are accepting donations to help cover immediate needs and funeral expenses.
What Officials Recommend: Test smoke alarms monthly, replace batteries once a year (or use 10-year batteries), create and practice a home escape plan, and keep portable heaters away from flammable materials.
