ABERDEEN, S.D. (AP) - Ashley DuMarce threw her son out of the upstairs window of their burning home to her grandfather who was waiting below.
Family members say the 26-year-old then went back in to save her daughter, but never came back out, the Aberdeen News (https://bit.ly/2rTuxVA ) reported.
Phoenix, the 6-year-old boy who survived a May 21 house fire in Sisseton, is now being looked after by his uncle, as well as his Roberts County hometown, according to his relatives.
His mother and 4-year-old sister, AjaRose Lawrence, died from smoke inhalation.
Alexis Wilson, a close friend and cousin to DuMarce, said she started a Go Fund Me page for Phoenix. His belongings were destroyed in the fire that was caused by faulty wiring on the building’s first floor, Wilson said.
Since starting the online fundraiser two days after the tragedy, she said 67 people have donated $3,490 to help Phoenix.
“She knew quite a lot of people in the community,” Wilson said of DuMarce. “I’ve seen names on there that I’ve never even heard of.”
Wilson said her son and Phoenix are good friends and rode the bus together during the school year.
“He’s going to need a lot of aftercare,” Wilson said of Phoenix. “He seems to be doing better.”
DuMarce’s older sister Chelsea also lived in the house that burned down, but said she was sleeping at a friend’s house the night of the fire.
“All the smoke was going upstairs,” Chelsea DuMarce said, “(Phoenix) remembers the fire and everything.”
DuMarce said her sister graduated from Sisseton Wahpeton Community College a few years ago and enjoyed caring for others.
“She loved her kids so much,” Chelsea DuMarce said.
She said that although Phoenix remembers what happened, he doesn’t fully understand that his mom and sister are dead and often asks where they are.
Still, DuMarce and Wilson said, Phoenix is doing pretty well.
“Right now, he’s happy,” DuMarce said.
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Information from: Aberdeen American News, https://www.aberdeennews.com
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