Tragedy Strikes Southern California Family as Christmas Tree Fire Claims the Lives of Two Little Girls

In a devastating turn of events, a southern California family is facing their first Christmas without their two young daughters who tragically lost their lives in a fire sparked by a Christmas tree. The Barstow firefighters received multiple distress calls just before 7 p.m. on December 14th, alerting them of a house fire with children trapped inside, according to a social media post by the department.

Charmon and Akeem Isom, the parents of the two girls, recounted their desperate attempts to save their family before the firefighters arrived. Charmon Isom shared, "You run, and you try to do as much as you can. Bust windows, run in, try and get in, try and get under the fire. I have first-degree burns on my feet from trying to get in there."

Despite their brave efforts, the firefighters had to resort to jumping through two separate bedroom windows to locate the trapped girls. Once found, the girls were immediately handed off to police officers who rushed them to waiting ambulances, as stated by the Barstow Fire Protection District. Both girls were then quickly transported to a local hospital.

Tragically, the family first lost 2-year-old Aalijah at the hospital. Her older sister, 7-year-old Annie, was airlifted to a specialized burn center where she was placed on life support. However, after a week-long battle, the parents made the heart-wrenching decision to let her go. In an act of selflessness, the grieving family decided to donate Annie's organs following her untimely passing.

As the community mourns the loss of these two precious lives, a vigil was held in their honor on Saturday. Their father, overwhelmed by grief, expressed, "There's no amount of money, there's no amount of valuables that can bring back my children."

In the wake of this devastating incident, the Isom family is now faced with the grim task of raising funds for their daughters' funerals, as well as finding a new home for the rest of the family. It has been revealed that the smoke detectors in the home were not functional during the fire, adding to the tragedy.

The Los Angeles Fire Department has taken this opportunity to emphasize the potential dangers associated with Christmas trees inside homes. On a dedicated page on their website, the department warns, "It can take seven years to grow a Christmas tree... and seven seconds for it to become an inferno."

As the investigation into the cause of the fire continues, the community is urged to take heed of the safety tips provided by the Los Angeles Fire Department, ensuring that this horrific incident serves as a reminder of the importance of fire safety during the holiday season.