Two Children Dead in Palm Bay Condo Fire

A devastating fire in Palm Bay's Country Gardens condominium resulted in the deaths of a 5-year-old and a 10-year-old, while their 32-year-old mother remains in critical condition with severe burns. The blaze, reported around 12:40 a.m. on Friday, was exacerbated by strong winds, and its cause is under investigation, with a space heater being a possible factor. A 15-year-old also present in the apartment managed to escape and is staying with family. In other fire-related incidents, two children were treated for smoke inhalation in DeKalb County, Georgia, following a house fire, and two children in Cheviot, Ohio, were hospitalized—one with minor burns—after a duplex fire. The causes of both fires are still being investigated, and the Red Cross is assisting the displaced families. Emergency services faced challenges in Atlanta due to icy roads during the fires, complicating response efforts.