Firefighters said burglar bars delayed the rescue of a mother and her 4-year-old daughter. The girl died while her mother is fighting for her life.
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — A 4-year-old died, and her mother remains in the hospital after a house fire in north Harris County last weekend.
The Northwest Volunteer Fire Department said burglar bars delayed their rescue. Relatives who were able to escape broke the window and sprayed Patricia Rodriguez and her daughter, Penelope, with a water hose until firefighters arrived early Sunday morning.
The Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office said there were locks on the burglar bars at the home on Redding Springs, so they could have been opened from the inside, but tragically, they weren’t. HCFMO officials said having a fire plan in your home can make a difference.
“They were trapped in that room for a long time, and they inhaled a lot of that smoke despite my brother’s best efforts,” Brittany Reynosa said.
She said her brother tried rescuing the mom and daughter, but couldn’t reach them. Firefighters eventually made it inside the home and got them out.
HCFMO’s Brandi Dumas said if you have burglar bars on your home, there are some things you can do before an emergency.
“Does it have keys? [Make] sure you have access to the keys, that everybody has access to the keys,” Dumas said.
She said there are some features on burglar bars, like quick releases.
“Just figure out what your alternative solutions are and make sure you can access the outside from inside,” Dumas said.
Dumas said families should have a fire plan in place, which includes having working smoke detectors, two clear exits out of your home, and a meeting place in an emergency. Having a fire plan and practicing it can make a difference.
“A lot of times, people do them at school, but they don’t do them at home, so making sure you all have a plan of escape. One thing, we’re always trying to prevent fires, but sometimes fires happen,” Dumas said.
The family said they want others to be aware of the risk posed by burglar bars. The family said the mother’s condition is improving. Anyone interested in helping the family can donate at this link.
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