BRODNAX, Va. (WRIC) – One person is dead after a house fire in Brodnax, Virginia on Friday.
According to the South Hill Enterprise, the fire started early Friday afternoon at a home on Main Street. One person reportedly died in the fire, according to a family member of the victim.
Several vehicles were also destroyed in the fire. It’s unclear what started the fire, and it remains under investigation.
8News spoke with the victim’s family after the horrific event.
“I could see black smoke and I was saying I hope that’s not my house because it didn’t look good at all,” said Shelia Simmons, the victim’s daughter.
Her 84-year-old mother was inside the home.
“I’m gonna miss her, I’m gonna miss her a lot,” said Simmons.
Simmons said she was taking care of her mother, who was very sick at the time.
“She was on her end but we didn’t want her to go,” said Simmons.
She wished her mother didn’t leave the world in such a tragic way.
“That’s the hurting part. The way she went.”
Sehmetra Simmons, the victim’s granddaughter, told 8News that the family left for Wal-Mart a little after noon and soon afterward “we got the call that the house was on fire.”
The family dropped their bags and ran home to find it engulfed in flames.
“And my mom was still in there,” said Shelia Simmons.
Rescuers attempted to save her, but there was only so much they could do.
The Brodnax Police Chief told 8News it was one of the most intense fires he has witnessed.
