Seven-year-old girl dies trying to save her brother in house fire

September 19^th, 2014 (InsideCostaRica.com) A seven-year-old girl died in a house fire Wednesday night while apparently searching for her brother in the blaze.

The incident took place shortly after 8pm on Wednesday night in the small village of Corralillo de Cartago.

The girl lived with her mother, Sandra Segura and her five other children on a small plot of land on a coffee farm that was donated by the plantation’s owner to the poor family two years ago.

According to fire officials, the blaze was caused by an electrical short.  The fire quickly spread through the makeshift home, which had been constructed with donated wood and tin from area residents some two years ago.  The girl’s mother and remaining siblings were able to escape the fire, but required hospitalization.

Segura, 30, remains hospitalized at the Calderon Guardia Hospital.  The surviving children range in age from one to nine years.

Area church officials are calling on the public for donations such as food, money, and clothing for Segura and her children.  The family will also require financial assistance to pay for the girl’s burial, church officials said.

Those interested in making a donation should call 2548-0768.