Maricopa resident Staci Cantu was left shell-shocked when she found out her long-time friend, Marion Mariano, was in intensive care from burns suffered in tragic fire on Friday. The two have been friends since kindergarten. “We have been so close, I couldn’t believe what had happened,” Cantu said. Cantu and members of the Wild Pitches adult women softball team organized a Sunday carwash at AutoZone to benefit the family. The group’s five-hour fundraiser raised nearly $2,000 in donations to benefit the family. And it wasn’t just cash donations. “We got two beds, clothing, cooking pans and more,” Cantu said. “We would like to thank the community for all the support they showed this weekend.” The fire that caused this devastation occurred Friday around 8 a.m.; taking the life of Marion Mariano’s 22-year-old sister, Michelle Mariano, and causing severe burns to two others. Yet, the fire could have been a much bigger tragedy if not for a three-year-old boy pulling his one-year-old sister from the flames, said Maricopa Fire spokesman Brad Pitassi. “He is a hero.” The children's aunt, 28-year-old Marion Mariano, sustained burns to 18 percent of her body and the young girl had burns to her face and torso, covering nearly 45 percent of her body. Both were air-lifted to Maricopa Medical Center's burn unit in Phoenix in critical condition and remain there today. The mobile home is located on a State Highway 238 and Ralston Road. Two men, who lived in the home, were working in nearby fields when the fire broke out early Friday morning. The uncle of the victims saw the flames and rushed to help, said Pinal County Sheriff Office spokesperson Tami Villar. He told investigators the little boy told him something had fallen over in the house that started the fire. No foul play is suspected, although sheriff's homicide investigators and arson investigators from the Phoenix Fire Department were called in to help determine what happened. “We are all praying and hoping for a quick recovery,” Cantu said. If you are interested in learning about how to help the family, e-mail Wildpitches9@hotmail.com. |