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2 Children Killed In Madison Mobile Home Fire

Posted at 5:27 AM, Dec 02, 2016
and last updated 2016-12-02 19:41:13-05

A 2-year-old girl and 5-year-old boy have died after being pulled from a burning mobile home in Madison.

Crews were called to the home on Cheyenne Boulevard shortly after midnight Friday, after a call came in regarding a residential fire.

According to officials with the Nashville Fire Department, bystanders found a way to break into the burning home and pull four victims out.

"Somebody said there was somebody in the back screaming. A bunch of the neighbors here took shovels and whatever they could find to peel the back of that trailer off," said neighbor Ron Lyons. 

When firefighters arrived, the blaze had already worked its way halfway through the home.

The victims, two adult males and two children, were given first aid at the scene before being taken to an area hospital.

Police said the children’s mother was at work when the fire started. 

The children later succumbed to their injuries. They were identified as Lujana Mejia-Hernandez and Christopher Mejia-Hernandez. One adult was still listed in critical condition. 

The cause of the fire remains unknown. At this point, investigators don't think it's suspicious.   

Christopher was a kindergartner at Neely’s Bend Elementary School. A statement from Metro Nashville Schools said he was a student from Guatemala and had recently learned how to read and understand English.

He was described as a "bright student and had a great personality."

Metro Schools released a statement in part, saying:

"We mourn with the students, faculty and families who are grieving his loss.

Metro Schools crisis response teams were at Neely’s Bend first thing this morning to speak with students and staff who need help processing this tragic news. They will remain on campus as long as needed and will be on-call after that. If anyone in the Neely’s Bend community – parents included – feels the need to talk to one of our counselors, we encourage them to reach out."