WASKOM, Texas -- Two children have died and their father injured in a house fire Tuesday morning in Waskom.
The family told KTBS the victims are Hector Cesar Pedraza, 11, and his brother, Isaac Nicholas Pedraza, 8. The brothers were in elementary school and middle school in the Waskom Independent School District.
The family said the boys were "funny, loving and all that a boy could be. They loved throwing the football, playing video games and going to the beach."
Waskom Police Chief Larry Smith confirmed two deaths. He said the fire will be investigated by the Harrison County fire marshal and state fire marshal.
“We received the call earlier today in reference to a structure fire,” said Smith. “The fire department was dispatched to the location here on Noble Street. The structure fire was successfully put out, and we are maintaining the scene while waiting on additional units to arrive. Unfortunately, there were two fatalities in the structure fire, and the incident is under investigation.”
The boys' father, Hector Pedraza, was injured while trying to help his sons. He was flown to a hospital with burn injuries. However, he was released later Tuesday and returned home to the boys' mother, Elizabeth.
Fire responders, including Justice of the Peace John Oswalt and Harrison County Fire Marshal Jamie McConnell, were on the scene into the afternoon, along with Waskom police and firefighters and the Marshall Fire Department.
The Waskom Independent School District issued the following statement on the deaths of the children:
