‘My heart just sank’: Family remembers 9-year-old boy killed in mobile home fire

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW/Gray News) - A family is in mourning following the death of a 9-year-old child after a mobile home fire in Kansas on Labor Day.

Chelsea Fisher told WIBW she was in Kansas City when she received a call about the fire at her cousin Susan Honea’s home.

“My heart just sank. As a mother, you can’t imagine losing your child,” Fisher said.

Honea, her husband and their twin boys were trapped inside the home when it caught fire.

“I was watching the livestream while we were away, and heard that it was a Topeka police officer along with just neighbors that jumped in to help because the first responders just weren’t here yet,” Fisher said.

Two police officers and three neighbors tried to rescue the family before fire crews arrived.

“We are eternally grateful for them to be able to help in any capacity; unfortunately, we did lose Alex,” Fisher said.

Alex’s twin brother, Ben, and their father remain in the hospital. Fisher said the brothers had special needs.

“They would be turning 10 later this month. It’s going to be a long road to recovery ahead of them. Those milestones will be really hard, especially with one here and one gone,” Fisher said.

The Honea family is also without a home, but losing a child is a pain Fisher said can never be replaced.

“I just remember them just being so smiley and sweet all the time. Just had such sweet personalities,” Fisher said.

A GoFundMe has been created to help the Honea family recover.

A preliminary investigation found the fire was accidental.