Palmdale Fire Claims 2nd Young Victim
A second child has died from injuries suffered in a fire that swept through a Palmdale home last week, a Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman said Wednesday.
Joseph Jacobo, 4, died at 8:46 p.m. Saturday at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles after suffering severe smoke inhalation, Deputy Sonia Parra said.
The boy’s 6-year-old sister, Rochelle Fuentes, died in the Feb. 20 fire at the children’s grandparents’ house in the 38700 block of Stanridge Avenue.
Another sibling, 3-year-old Jacob Jacobo, who was taken to the hospital in critical condition, has been upgraded to fair condition, a hospital spokesman said.
Their uncle, Nathan Maropulos, 22, remained in critical condition after undergoing surgery at Grossman Burn Center in Sherman Oaks, hospital spokesman Larry Weinberg said.
Maropulos had third-degree burns over 25% of his body and severe smoke inhalation.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
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