Fire Chief: 2 killed in DeSoto County house fire were mother and son

Reporter: Annalise Iraola Writer: Nicholas Karsen
Published: Updated:
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The fire damaged home was located in DeSoto County. Credit: WINK

Two people who were killed in a house fire that occurred south of Arcadia appeared to be mother and son, according to the DeSoto County Fire Department’s chief.

According to the DeSoto County Fire Department, at around 2 a.m., on Friday, units were called to a home located on the 2600 block of Hereford Southwest.

When firefighters arrived, they found the home fully engulfed by flames.

WINK spoke with Becky-Sue Mercer, executive director for the Arcadia Housing Authority who verified the victims’ names as Claudia, 46, and Abel, 14, Castillo.

According to Mercer, Claudia’s birthday was coming up on Monday, and she has three older adult daughters.

“She and Abel were the youngest. He was the baby. So usually, the babies always get special treatment but because he was the only boy, it was super special. And she and Abel we’re very close. Not that she wasn’t close with the daughters. But she enables had a closeness, and to think that they’re both gone so tragically is what’s devastating,” said Becky-Sue Mercer, a friend to the victim and executive director for the Arcadia Housing Authority.

Neighbors informed the firefighters of people who were believed to be inside the home.

According to DCFD, firefighters had entered the home but could not continue after a certain point without sustaining injuries from the blaze.

“I think the hardest thing is going to be walking in the door to the office and her not saying hey, or good morning,” said Mercer.

They had planned for a luncheon on Wednesday to celebrate her 47th birthday, Mercer said.

After the fire was extinguished, the victims were discovered dead within the home, said DCFD.

The state fire marshal was called to investigate the cause of the fire further.

“That crew made it less than 10 foot one of the firefighters fell through the floor. But was able to pull himself out of the floor. But obviously just not realistic to do that they had to back out they were driven back out,” said Chad Jorgenson, the Fire Chief for DeSoto County Fire Rescue.

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