My precious daughters, aged 7 and 2, were killed in fire caused by Christmas decor… I’m haunted by their final moments
After a wonderful day of Christmas shopping, Charmon Isom and her husband Akeem came home to find their four thrilled kids running inside as they spoke about where to hide the gifts.
The family’s Christmas tree caught fire, and minutes later, flames tore through their living room.
Unfortunately, Annie, 7, and Aalijah, 2, were locked in the garage and did not survive, but their boys, DJ, 11, and Little, 6, were able to escape.
Although the exact cause of the fire is still unknown, the fire department believes it was caused by a spark from malfunctioning electrical components in the plug that the tree lights were attached to.
Almost a year later, Charmon, 31, of California, USA, is speaking out about the unfathomable loss to urge homeowners to inspect their electrical systems and follow fire safety precautions.
“I’m urging other families to have their electrics checked and smoke alarms fitted and tested,” the mother of five said.
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I will always be saddened by the loss of my lovely girls on that day. It will be their enduring legacy if one person is spared from speaking up about what transpired.
Excited for Santa
In their household, the family took great pride in the holiday season.
The children would receive a basket of gifts on the big day after they spent hours decorating their Christmas tree in December.
According to Charmon, the kids would write Santa their lists every summer, which allowed us to save money for gifts.
We put a lot of effort into supporting our blended family of eight.
As usual, Charmon chose her Christmas tree in December of last year.
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The kids used silver, white, and gold decorations to decorate it.
Charmon recalls that Annie and Aalijah consumed every sugar cane on the lower branches in less than a week.
They were very naughty.
The following week, Charmon and Akeem went shopping for Christmas while their kids were at school and Aalijah was in nursery.
They went home after picking up Annie, Aalijah, DJ, and Little.
‘Knew she was gone’
While the kids began their homework, Akeem, 32, plugged in the tree lights inside.
Charmon explains: I asked for Akeem to come outside because I needed to conceal the gifts that were in the car boot.
After just a few minutes of being outside, I noticed dense smoke emanating from the living room window.
It was very hot, so I took Akeem by the arm and hurried to the front door.
Fire safety tips for Christmas
1. Select Flame-Resistant Decorations: To reduce the chance of a fire, choose Christmas decorations made of non-flammable or flame-resistant materials.
2. Carefully Examine Lights: Look for loose connections, frayed wires, and broken bulbs before hanging lights. Any damaged lights should be replaced right away.
3. Don’t Overload outlets: Don’t plug in too many extension cords or electrical outlets. Make sure your electrical system can manage the load and use surge protectors.
4. Keep Real Trees Hydrated: To keep your real Christmas tree from drying out and becoming a fire hazard, make sure it receives enough water. Trees that are dry might readily catch fire.
5. Place Decorations Safely: Keep decorations away from heat sources like fireplaces, radiators, and candles, especially flammable ones.
6. switch Off Lights When Unattended: To lower the risk of a fire, always switch off electrical decorations, including Christmas lights, when you leave the house or go to bed.
7. Use Candles Carefully: If you plan to use candles, keep them away from combustible objects and decorations and place them in sturdy holders. Candles should never be left unattended.
8. Install Smoke Alarms: Make sure that every floor of your house has a functional smoke alarm. Test them frequently, and swap out the batteries when necessary.
9. Establish an Emergency Plan: Ascertain that your family is aware of what to do in the event of a fire. Keep emergency numbers close at reach and prepare and practice an escape route.
You may have a fun and safe holiday season by heeding these suggestions.
“The tree’s on fire!” yelled DJ as he and Little piled out of the garage door as the couple hurried around the rear of the home.
Charmon explains: I got on my hands and knees and began to crawl into the garage because I was determined to get the girls.
But I was struck by the black wall of smoke. When I called for Annie, she yelled, “Mum!”
There was no response as I called out to Aalijah.
Charmon attempted every window in a desperate attempt to get them out, but they refused to open.
She even attempted to use pebbles to smash them.
Firefighters entered the house shortly after the fire department arrived.
Annie was barely breathing when they took her out in a matter of minutes.
Charmon recalls: It was horrifying to see her tiny body covered in burns.
Aalijah was taken out shortly after while they worked on her in the ambulance.
The firefighter informed me that he had discovered her concealed beneath a blanket.
I knew she was gone as I watched him take her limp body to the ambulance.
Funeral for two
When Charmon and Akeem arrived at Barstow Hospital after the girls were blue-lighted there, they were informed that Annie had sustained third-degree burns to her face and body.
A doctor tragically told them that Aalijah had died.
Charmon states: I fell into Akeem’s arms after my heart broke.
However, Annie was being evacuated to UEI Medical Center, so the two hardly had time to digest the terrible news.
Doctors there acknowledged that additional testing was necessary to determine whether she still had brain activity after she was put into an induced coma.
After three days, the specialist informed her that she would not survive because no brainwaves were seen.
According to Charmon, Akeem and I sobbed because we couldn’t comprehend that we had lost two kids.
The doctor asked if we would consider donating her organs while we attempted to console one another. Since it would have been what she want, I consented.
The family bid farewell the following day.
Just two days before Christmas, on the day of the transplant, Charmon and Akeem took Annie to the theater while Stevie Wonder’s “Isn’t She Lovely” was playing over the hospital speakers.
The couple was homeless as they dealt with their devastating loss.
The family stayed with Charmon’s mother because the house was completely destroyed by the fire.
Warning for others
Following the daughters’ burials the following month, the family was able to move into a new house because of community donations.
According to Charmon, we hung a large poster of the girls together in the living room and covered the entire house with photos of them.
For the other children to sleep alongside, we even had blankets made with their faces on them.
Charmon is now urging households to make sure their smoke alarms are operational and that their electrical systems be inspected for any issues or suspicious wiring.
She clarifies: “We were unaware that the house we rented lacked a smoke detector. We might have received a warning and been able to evacuate everyone if there had been.
“Please make sure your homes are secure and teach your kids how to stay safe around fires.
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With Annie and Aalijah gone, our lives will never be the same again, but I m determined my beautiful angels will never be forgotten.
Please make a donation here to support the family:Fundraiser by Charmon Isom : Annie and Aalijah Isom (gofundme.com)
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