Vigil Held For 2 Toddlers Killed In San Bernardino Apartment Fire
SAN BERNARDINO (CBSLA.com) — Friends and family members of two children killed in a San Bernardino apartment fire last week held an emotional vigil Sunday night.
KCAL9's Bobby Kaple spoke to the devastated family who came to honor 6-year-old Canda Leetch and her 2-year-old brother, Joey.
Their mother, Angelica Suarez, was at the hospital at the time of the fire giving birth to the baby sister they will never know.
"To have them gone and taken away from all of us, it's really hard. It's painful," said Kimberly Greenhalgh, Angelica's sister.
Greenhalgh realized from this tragedy how quickly life could change.
"She was happy on Thursday," said Kimberly about her sister. "She was about to have a newborn baby and a couple of hours later she found out that her other two children, my niece and nephew, passed away that day."
Kaple said members of the San Bernardino Fire Department also showed up for the vigil. They said they came to offer emotional support.
Police said the family was living in this bank owned property illegally and earlier this month cited the property for several violations including no working smoke detectors and unsafe living conditions.
Greenhalgh said her sister didn't like her living conditions and was embarrassed to tell her family she was living in the bank owned property.
"Yes it was illegally but she had no where to go, nobody wanted to help her, nothing. She wanted to keep her kids warm and safe instead of out on the street," she said.
"It's been heartbreaking for our personnel on the floor," said Captain Jason Serrano of San Bernardino Fire.
"Whenever you occupy any sort of residence it has to be up to code and you should have a working smoke detector and working utilities should be connected properly," said Serrano.
"She was a pretty good friend and I really wish she was here," said Robert Ramos, one of Candra's friends.
The children's father remains in the hospital in critical condition.
RELATED LINK:
Mom Gives Birth In Hospital As 2 Kids Are Killed In San Bernardino Apartment Fire
Greenhalgh is raising money to help bury her niece and nephew. To help, go to any Chase bank and deposit to 665275116, attn: Greenhalgh.
