Lackawanna House Fire Leaves Mother, Daughter Dead and Two Children Injured

Late Tuesday night, I witnessed the first reports of firemen racing to a Lackawanna residence on Girard Avenue. I’ve read enough of these to know that things will get bad. This one, however, struck differently.

Audrey Zosowski, age 4, and her mother Felicia Toporek, age 28, did not survive. Her other two children, a one-month-old and a five-year-old, were taken to the hospital immediately. Firefighters had to remove one of them from the roof.

The fire at 27 Girard Ave started shortly before 10:30 p.m. The rear of the house was already on fire when the responders got there. Inside, they were confined. As emergency personnel struggled to evacuate them via heat and smoke, neighbors could only watch in helplessness.

The scene is imaginable. It’s the kind of mayhem that no neighbor ever forgets and no family ever plans for.

What can communities do better, in your opinion, to stop tragedies like this one? Comment below with your comments.

What Firefighters Faced That Night?

I got chills when I read about what the first responders walked into.

The call was received shortly before 10:30 p.m., according to WIVB. Fast-burning flames were gushing from the back of a house on Girard Avenue. Four kids and their mother were inside.

Firefighters wasted no time at all. One youngster was saved directly off the roof. They pulled out all four children and their mother and transported them to local hospitals. However, little Audrey and Felicia did not survive in spite of their best efforts.

Imagine being a neighbor and witnessing it while knowing that children were still inside. Even worse, picture yourself as a firefighter attempting to arrive and depart on schedule.

It takes all of your courage, quick thinking, and snap judgment to respond that way. It serves as a reminder of the weight that these crews bear.

A man was killed inside his Clayton house by a horrific fire just last month, demonstrating once more how swiftly these catastrophes happen.

Community Shock and Grief: It Was Very Upsetting

To be honest, I was more affected by what happened after the fire than by the actual fire itself.

Halie Weiglein, a Mercy Hospital staff member who witnessed the family’s arrival, provided a quote to WGRZ. She had nothing to do with them. didn’t know who they were. Yet when she stated, “It was very upsetting hard to see the children in such vulnerable states,” her voice faltered.

Doesn’t that say a lot? Tragedy can strike close to home even if you don’t know someone. particularly when children are involved.

According to Halie, the response from the community inspired her people to show up with flowers, candles, and everything else they could provide. And I understand that. To demonstrate that their lives mattered, sometimes all you have to do is take action.

A community either comes together or separates during times like these. Lackawanna made the decision to unite. That is important.

Unfortunately, despite prompt emergency response, this is not the first time a home fire has claimed lives.Following a similar incident, one individual was also discovered dead inside a house in Maine.

Who They Were: A Mother and Her Children

The names are now known to us. In my opinion, everything changes when stories are given names.

Felicia Toporek was twenty-eight. She had three young children, one of which was four-year-old Audrey Zosowski. That night, Audrey passed away with her mother. The infant and the other two children, who are only five years old, are still in the hospital.

Personally, I don’t know anything about Felicia. However, I am aware that she lost her life attempting to protect her kids. Audrey, too? She was only a child and was most likely asleep when the fire broke out.

These were more than merely victims. They were a family. A mother, making every effort. Children have their entire lives ahead of them. That’s how we should discuss things, not just as headline figures, in my opinion.

You may understand how heartbreaking those last moments must have been if you’ve ever had children or even just cared for one.

Please leave a message for this family in the comments section below if you have gone through something similar. You might not realize the full impact of what you say.

The Cause Is Still Under Investigation

Officials have not yet verified the cause of the fire. The cause is still being looked into.

I understand that’s frustrating. You and I both desire answers whenever anything this significant occurs. Did it have an electrical component? A fire for cooking? Was there anything that could have been avoided?

All we can do is wait till the investigation is over. But it’s worthwhile to consider our own homes while we wait. I checked mine the same night smoke alarms, exit routes, all of it. Because you simply never know.

You may not be able to control everything, but trust me, a working smoke detector can mean the difference between life and death. Especially when you ve got little ones.

I noticed a few people discussing this same concern how fast a fire spreads on a WhatsApp channel where folks share real-time updates on home safety incidents. It s eye-opening how many of these tragedies start with small, unnoticed hazards.

What This Fire Reminds Us About Home Safety?

After something like this, I always ask myself could it happen to me? To my building? To my family?

The hard truth is, yes. Fires don t discriminate. And most of us don t think about fire safety until it s too late.

If you ve got kids at home, especially little ones like Felicia did, you need to have working smoke alarms on every level of your house. Not just one. Test them once a month. Keep fire extinguishers near the kitchen. Plan your escape routes and talk to your kids about what to do.

It doesn t have to be complicated. But it has to be done.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), most deadly home fires happen overnight, just like this one. That s when people are asleep, alarms aren t working, and there s no time to think.

I m not trying to scare you. I m just telling you what I ve learned. Because if this story hits close to your heart, then maybe it s also the right moment to make a few small changes at home.

In another recent case,a fire in Kennewick destroyed a home and left two firefighters suffering from heat exhaustion, showing how dangerous these rescues can be even for trained crews.

A Family We Shouldn t Forget

I can t stop thinking about the silence that must ve followed after the sirens left.

One mother. One daughter. Gone. Two young children, now without them.

That s the kind of loss that shakes a whole neighborhood and it should. Because it reminds us how fragile life is. How fast everything can change. And how much every second matters when something goes wrong.

But it also reminds us that people still care. That even in the darkest moments, someone lights a candle. Someone brings flowers. Someone writes their name so they re not forgotten.

For more real stories that matter to home safety and community, visit our websiteBuild Like New.

Disclaimer:The information in this article is based on reports available at the time of writing. Details may change as the investigation continues. We aim to report responsibly and with respect for the families affected.

Table of Contents

• Lackawanna House Fire Leaves Mother, Daughter Dead and Two Children Injured

  • What Firefighters Faced That Night?

  • Community Shock and Grief: It Was Very Upsetting

  • Who They Were: A Mother and Her Children

  • The Cause Is Still Under Investigation

  • What This Fire Reminds Us About Home Safety?

  • A Family We Shouldn t Forget

• What Firefighters Faced That Night?

• Community Shock and Grief: It Was Very Upsetting

• Who They Were: A Mother and Her Children

• The Cause Is Still Under Investigation

• What This Fire Reminds Us About Home Safety?

• A Family We Shouldn t Forget