A 15 year-old girl badly injured in a weekend house fire has died.
Around 2:10am Saturday, a home at 5083 Highway 301 South near Four Oaks caught fire while a family of four was asleep inside.
The father, Jorge Barahona, was able to escape from the flames and run to a neighbors home for help, but his wife and two children were trapped in a rear bedroom.
A Four Oaks police officer was able to rescue Wendy Trejo Urbina, 34, from the burning home. Four Oaks firefighters pulled Melonie Trejo Urbina, 15, and her brother, Juan Carlos Urbina, 15, from the flames.
Two state troopers performed CPR on Melonie Urbina until paramedics arrived and they continued life saving efforts. Unfortunately, Melonie, a student at Four Oaks Middle School, died late-Sunday in the Burn Center at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill.
Juan Urbina and Wendy Urbina remain in serious condition at the Burn Center. Juan is a student at Johnston County Early College.
Johnston County Fire Marshal Adam Stanley said the fatal house fire started in the living room area but the exact cause has still not been determined. Stanley said there is nothing suspicious about the fire, but it still remains under investigation.
Four Oaks Fire Chief Barry Stanley said there didn’t appear to be any working smoke detectors in the residence. Chief Stanley said a smoke detector would have likely alerted the family to the fire and the tragedy could possibly have been prevented.
Fire Marshal Stanley said anyone who doesn’t have a smoke detector in their home and needs one should reach out to their local fire department.
In the meanwhile, cash donations and gift cards are being accepted at the Four Oaks Town Hall for the Urbina family. Clothing is not be accepted, only cash and gift cards. The family lost everything they owned. They did not have insurance.
Funeral arrangements for Melonie Urbina are incomplete at this time.
Photos by John Payne
