A devastating early-morning mobile-home fire in Murrieta, California, on Dec. 20 killed two young daughters and several household pets. Murrieta Fire & Rescue found five people inside; three survivors were hospitalized. A GoFundMe organized by a friend says the mother, Stacey Hales, is hospitalized, reportedly lost her eyesight and all possessions, and the fundraiser seeks $24,000. Crews attempted an interior rescue but moved to defensive operations as the structure failed; the blaze was controlled in about 45 minutes while investigators work to determine the cause.
Mother Mourns Two Young Daughters After Devastating Pre-Christmas Mobile-Home Fire in Murrieta
Getty; GoFundMeFire engine (stock image); Stacey Hales' children
A California mother is grieving after a pre-Christmas blaze destroyed her family's mobile home and claimed the lives of two young daughters, officials and local reports said.
Fire Erupts Early Dec. 20
Murrieta Fire & Rescue (MFR) responded about 4:42 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 20, to reports of a residential structure fire on the 41000 block of Knight Drive. Crews arrived to find the mobile home, a carport, three vehicles, two outbuildings and a large pine tree "fully engulfed in flames." Five people were inside the property when the fire began, MFR said.
Casualties, Injuries and Pets
Two occupants and "multiple household pets" died in the blaze, while three other residents were located and transported to a nearby hospital, according to MFR. Local outlet My Valley News, citing a GoFundMe page, identified the deceased as two young daughters of Stacey Hales.
Family Fundraiser and Condition Reports
A GoFundMe campaign organized by Andrea Raikoglo, who describes herself as a "close friend" of Hales, states that Hales is hospitalized and "doesn't have any eyesight" and that all of her possessions and her vehicle were destroyed. The fundraiser seeks $24,000 to help the family recover from the loss. The campaign and related posts on social media have been shared widely as the community seeks ways to support the family.
GoFundMeStacey Hales and her two children.
"We are reaching out to please help them if you can. She has nothing — it would really mean a lot," the GoFundMe description reads.
Social posts shared on Facebook by a family member indicate that the children’s father was also receiving hospital treatment and that the family's surviving 12-year-old daughter is staying with an uncle. One post noted the family had experienced prior heartbreak, saying the mother had lost an older child in a previous accident.
Firefighting Response and Investigation
Firefighters initially entered an "emergency rescue mode" and launched an aggressive interior attack. As conditions deteriorated and the building's structural integrity rapidly declined, crews transitioned to a defensive firefighting posture while continuing to search for any trapped occupants. MFR reported the fire was brought under control in about 45 minutes.
Murrieta Fire & Rescue and the Murrieta Police Department are conducting a joint investigation into the origin and cause of the fire. Officials have not released further details pending the ongoing probe.
Note: Some personal details about the family's condition come from the GoFundMe page and social media posts; official incident statements are from Murrieta Fire & Rescue.
