House fire kills family’s matriarch
A family is mourning the death of their matriarch after a house fire in the Lower Valley on 7400 block of Sequoia Way.
Maria Concepcion Macias, 78, died from injuries she suffered when her daughter’s home went up in flames on Wednesday morning. Investigators said a lamp sparked the blaze.
Macias’ son-in-law, Rito Contreras, is being treated in Lubbock for severe burns, possibly on 50 percent of his body. Contreras’ grandchildren, David and Violeta, were also inside the home but did not suffer any major injuries. The two-year-old and four-year-old were rescued by passers-by. Rito Contreras helped the children escape through a window. But as a diabetic with a cast on his leg, he was unable to escape until rescuers arrived.
Rito Contreras’ wife, Maria, lost her home and her mother. Thursday afternoon, she left to Lubbock to be with her husband of 28 years. “I have to see him,” she told ABC-7 in Spanish during an interview on Thursday.
Maria Contreras was collected on Thursday, though a bit frazzled when she spoke about her mother and her grandchildren. “She was the best … She loved the kids,” she said of her mother.
Contreras took care of her grandchildren while their mother worked overnight at a Denny’s restaurant. Contreras works two jobs to pay for her home. Her husband, Rito, is disabled.
The family has an account set up for any donations since they are currently without a home and need to set up funeral expenses, plus pay medical bills. The account is with GECU. The account number is 447375.
