Vigil held for three kids killed in lower valley fire

Flowers, stuffed animals and candles lined a fence just in front of the charred skeleton of a mobile home in El Paso’s lower valley.

A fire ripped through the home last Friday killing three young children.

The fire erupted at about 6:30 p.m. September 23, 2016 on the 400 block of Newell Hays.

At a vigil held for the victims, friends, neighbors and complete strangers came together to support the families in pain.

Fire officials have confirmed the identities of the victims.

Kayden Cervantes was the youngest at only 2 years old. His cousins, 5-year-old Nyene Vela and his brother, 7-year-old Jayden Vela also died in the fire.

Ruth Palma, the grandmother of Kayden was at the vigil. She is overcome with grief as she struggles to accept the tragic loss.

“I lost my grandson Kayden. He lived a short life. He didn’t know anything about life,” Palma said.

At one point, people held each other in a circle and prayed.

Adam Covarrubio’s father was inside the mobile home, with the children, when he suddenly smelled smoke.

“My dad said he was smelling smoke. I mean my dad is sick himself. He got up and opened the door to see where the fire was coming from and when he opened the door, it was already in front of his room, he could not exit out,” Covarrubio said.

His father and nephew made it out of the fire alive, but Kayden Cervantes and his cousins, Nyene and his brother Jayden did not.

Ruth and Kayden’s father dropped to their knees looking over photos on display at the vigil.

“It just broke my heart. I just can’t believe something like this happened to them. They were so young. They did not have a chance in life. They did not get to experience anything,” Palma said.

The Ysleta school district confirms two of the boys attended Lancaster elementary school.

The man and 3-year-old boy who managed to escape the fire have since been released from the hospital.

While fire officials have not confirmed what caused the mobile home to catch fire, the family of the victims believe it was an electrical short.