A family in the Jurupa valley is mourning the loss of their 14-year-old son who died of severe injuries and smoke inhalation after their house was burnt down earlier this month.
On Dec. 5 at 1:59 pm, firefighters from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the Riverside County Fire Department responded to a one-story house that was completely engulfed in flames on Pacific Avenue in Jurupa Valley.
One victim was caught and pulled from the burning building by firefighters and transported to a local hospital in critical condition, according to county fire officials.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Family members identified the victim on social media as 14-year-old Zakaria Diaz.
Diaz was an eighth grade student at Central Middle School of Arts and Innovation, KTLA5 reported. The school released a statement saying Diaz died of his injuries at the hospital two days after the fire.
The school described Zakaria as “a kind student who enjoyed all aspects of school life.”
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“As a 7th grader, he played in the Intermediate Band and his teammates with whom he played last year are still his close friends,” said this document. “As one of the tallest students at Central, you should see him above all the other kids, but he was truly a gentle giant with a quick smile and an easy laugh.”
His mother, Nicky Rodriquez, is raising money through a GoFundMe page for the funeral and said the teenager “had a wonderful life and will continue to give us loving memories of the time we had with him.”
A small memorial of flowers, candles and a stuffed Pikachu are left beside the curb and behind it are the charred remains of the family home.
The fire left seven people dead and also killed the family’s five chihuahuas, KTLA5 reported.
The family held a memorial for Diaz at Rubidoux Mortuary – Kimberly Family Chapel at 6091 Mission Blvd. in Riverside on December 20 at 1 pm
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This story first appeared in the Los Angeles Times.