A Broward County father and his 11-year-old daughter died in an early morning fire Wednesday and today, investigators have released the names of the victims.
Armando Hernandez Valdez, 51, and Ana Hernandez Marrero, 11, were discovered in a back bedroom after a fire tore through their mobile home on August 24.
Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue units were dispatched at 2:59 a.m. Wednesday, to what was initially reported as a sparking air conditioning unit outside the home at 1361-C SW 44 Ter. in Broadview Park, an unincorporated community that borders Ft. Lauderdale and Plantation. Information was quickly obtained from the 9-1-1 caller that indicated the mobile home was on fire, and that there were reports of people trapped inside who did not respond to neighbors banging on the windows.
First-arriving firefighters immediately entered the burning mobile home with a hose line and began searching for victims. After approximately five minutes, fire conditions rapidly deteriorated and a flashover occurred. Firefighters were ordered out of the structure and continued battling the blaze from the outside.
The fire was knocked down after about 30 minutes. Firefighters did not report hearing any smoke alarms sounding inside the home.
The Broward Sheriff Fire Marshals Bureau and Florida Bureau of Fire and Arson Investigations are conducting the cause and origin investigation, in conjunction with the death investigation led by the Broward Sheriff’s Office Homicide Unit.
The Broward County Medical Examiner’s Office performed autopsies on the victims and will determine the manner and cause of death. The investigation is ongoing.