CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — Five lives were lost over the weekend after a Chesterfield County home that housed four generations of family members went up in flames.
The fire started around 3:15 a.m. Sunday morning. Fire crews found heavy smoke coming from the garage and the house. Responders were able to go inside and get rescue five people from the home. One person was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and four others escaped safely.
Four people were pronounced dead at the scene while the fifth was pronounced dead at VCU Medical Center. Two firefighters were transported to the hospital with minor burn injuries. A police officer was also taken to the hospital to have a laceration treated.
Monday afternoon, authorities released the identities of the five who were killed: 74-year-old Richard Hudson, 76-year-old Margaret Hudson, 3-year-old Madison Hunt and 1-year-old Colton Elsmer.
The entire situation, from trying to aid in the rescue efforts to dealing with the aftermath, is proving tough for neighbors.
“When I opened the front door, it was just heat and glass shattered from all the glass fixtures from all the cold and warm air,” said neighbor Jerry Brown. “I couldn’t go in. It was helplessness.”
Brown and his family live across the street. They want to get the word out about a GoFundMe page to raise funds for the family.
Still, Brown can’t stop reliving the tragedy.
“They were still alive, at least I know Dick was,” Brown said of R. Hudson, who we’re told was disabled. “We were able to get to a window in the back. We lift the window up, smoke came billowing out and he said, ‘help me, please help me,’ and I told him we’re coming to get him. We just couldn’t get in there.”
