Family of kids killed in Edna fire speak out

EDNA, TX (KTRK) -- All but one of six siblings died in Tuesday morning house fire in Edna, and now family members say they're still in disbelief about what happened.

"I just want to tell everybody to be thankful for what you got, because tomorrow is not promised to anybody," Brenda Perales said.

Perales would know. She just lost five of her grandchildren in a fire.

"I would die for my grandkids so they could live their lives, I really would," Perales said.

The fire started just after 5am Tuesday, and engulfed their mobile home within minutes. The parents rushed to save their six children, but only the youngest made it out alive. Noah Ortiz, 15, 13-year-old Nicholas Ortiz, 9-year-old Julian Ortiz, 6-year-old Ariana Hernandez, and 5-year-old Liliana Hernandez all died together.

"This is probably one of the darkest days we've had in this community," said Edna Fire Captain Nick Strauss.

The Edna Fire Department was quiet Wednesday. Firefighters, too, have families at home.

"You see your own family as these children that we lost," said Capt. Strauss, "and it hits home really hard."

Noah was a defensive lineman at Edna High School, poised to start in this weekend's game. Now, his teammates are playing in his honor.

"When you meet young men, you know what kind of raising they got from their family and I was really impressed with this young man," said football coach, Huey Chancellor.