A Buford father lost his wife last Wednesday morning in a fire that ravaged their home. He could do nothing to save her as he was fighting for his own life battling COVID in a local hospital. The father, Humberto Giron Garcia lost the fight and passed away on Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021.
The fire that claimed his wife, Febe Santos, 41 was called into 9-1-1 at 2:43 a.m. by a neighbor. Firefighters had arrived on the scene in the 100 block of Kennesaw Street in Buford just minutes later to find flames coming out of windows at the rear of the home and basement. Four children and their caregiver made it out of the house without injury. However, it was learned that the mother was trapped in the basement of the home.
Santos had been quarantined in the basement as she had been recovering from COVID. Her husband was not home at the time of the fire because he was in critical condition from COVID at a nearby hospital.
Firefighters attempted to make entry into the home and basement but was unable to do so. They gained entry through the front door but were unable to go more than halfway into the home as the floor had collapsed into the basement. The stairs leading down to the basement were compromised and deemed unsafe for firefighters to attempt to use them.
Giron Garcia was told about his wife’s death but ultimately was unable to recover from the virus. He succumbed to COVID on Sept. 1.
The four children, who range in age from 8 to 14 were taken in by a relative of their mother’s in Marietta. The relative already has four children of their own taking a family of six to a family of 10. Their family said that they will begin counseling soon to help cope with the trauma from the loss of their parents.
The family has started a GoFundMe account to cover the final expenses of the parents, as well as the many expenses of the children including counseling. The North Gwinnett Co-Op in Buford has also been accepting donations to benefit the family.
