Saira and Alexia Cazares died in a fire in Manchester.
MENDOCINO Co., 12/20/16 — The remains of the two girls who perished in a house fire last week were identified today by the Mendocino County Coroner, according to a press release issued by the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office. Saira Vanessa Cazares, 14, and Alexia Anaihi Cazares, 10, died when their house burned down in the early morning of December 13.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
A memorial mass in remembernece of the girls will be held
Wednesday, Dec. 28 at 3:00pm, at Saint Aloysius Catholic Church in Point Arena. A novena will be prayed starting the next day at 7:00pm, also at St. Aloysius. The community is invited to participate.
The sister’s parents and two older brothers survived the fire, but lost everything in the blaze. The community has rallied around the family, and donations are being accepted at a Go Fund Me page, as well as at the S&B Market in Manchester and at the Gualala Super Market. For more information about donations call the S&B Market in Manchester: (707) 882-2805.
The following the the press release from the MCSO has the additional information from the coroner’s division at the bottom.
DATE: “December 20, 2016”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Incident Number:
2016-38136Crime/Incident:
Residential Structure FireLocation:
45000 block Biaggi Lane in Manchester, CADate of Incident:
12-13-2016Time:
1:46 AMVictim(s):
Saira Vanessa Cazares (14 year-old female from Manchester, CA)Alexia Anaihi Cazares (10 year-old female from Manchester, CA)
Suspect(s):
Written By:
Captain Gregory L. Van PattenSynopsis: On 12-13-2016, at about 1:40 AM, a member of a family residing at a residence on Biaggi Lane in Manchester awoke to the sound of smoke alarms sounding. He found the residence was filled with smoke, and on fire and alerted other sleeping family. Some family members were able to get onto the roof and jump to safety,while others were able to crawl out. Once outside of the residence, which was now fully engulfed in flame, the family could not locate two children, who were believed to still be in the house. Due to the complete involvement of the structure by fire, re-entry was impossible.
911 was called and members of the Redwood Coast Fire Department arrived to find the house engulfed in flame. They immediately began attempting to enter the residence and extinguish the flame. South Coast Fire, North Coast Fire, Timber Cove Fire, Elk Fire, and Calfire, along with ambulances of the Coast Life Support District also responded with personnel and equipment.
The fire was extinguished and Mendocino County Sheriff’s Investigators, assisted by investigators from The State Fire Marshall’s Office and CALFIRE are currently investigating the incident.
It is believed two children perished in the fire, and the search of the remains of the structure is underway.
UPDATE 12-20-2016
On 12-19-2016 the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Coroner’s Division identified the human remains as being that of Saira Vanessa Cazares (14 year-old female) and Alexia Anaihi Cazares (10 year-old female).
The cause and origin of the fire remains under investigation at this time.
Approved by: Captain Gregory L. Van Patten
