A quiet early morning in Escambia County, Florida, was abruptly shattered by a deadly fire that tore through a mobile home in the Grand Oak Mobile Home Park, leaving two young boys and the family dog dead. The fire broke out at approximately 12:56 a.m. on Flaxman Street, and firefighters from Escambia County Fire Rescue (ECFR) were dispatched to the scene. By the time they arrived, the home was fully engulfed in flames, and despite their swift action to contain the fire, it was declared under control by 1:17 a.m. — too late to save the lives of the victims.
Inside the burning home, responders found the bodies of 9-year-old Vayden Orum and 7-year-old Rayden Smith, both of whom had been students at Sherwood Elementary School, located just a mile away. Tragically, the family dog was also found dead in the wreckage. The loss has devastated the close-knit community, leaving residents and schoolmates of the boys in shock and mourning.
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In addition to the tragic deaths, three other family members — two adults and one child — were taken to local hospitals after being treated at the scene for fire-related injuries. The mobile home was destroyed, leaving the surviving members of the family displaced.
Lisa Pinegar, the boys’ grandmother, who lives in Tennessee, described the tragedy as a “nightmare,” adding that the family would be staying with her as they come to terms with their loss and figure out next steps. A GoFundMe page has been created to help support the family during this unimaginable time.
State investigators from the Florida Bureau of Fire, Arson and Explosives, in cooperation with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, are working to determine the cause of the fire. No further details have been released as the investigation is ongoing.
The tragedy has united the Escambia County community, with friends, neighbors, school officials, and local organizations offering condolences and support. The memory of Vayden and Rayden is already becoming a source of collective grief and strength, as the community comes together to help the family heal from the unimaginable loss.