Neighbor rushed to victims' aid in Seminole fire | News

Seminole, FL - A 97-year-old mother and her disabled daughter were victims of a fatal fire in the Twin Oaks Condominiums Thursday evening.

Emergency crews were called to the complex shortly after 6 p.m. after neighbors spotted thick black smoke coming from the family's corner unit.

John Thompson lives right next door and was just getting ready for dinner when he realized something was wrong.

"I could see things were bad before I even got out there," said Thompson. "You couldn't see anything in the house, the smoke was just billowing in the unit."

Thompson knew his 97-year-old neighbor, Alice Haker, and her wheelchair-bound 72-year-old daughter, Marlene Schaffran, were likely still inside. He ran over doing whatever he could to get them out.

"The smoke was just billowing in there and when I opened the door it just came out. It came out high and I tried to get down on my knees but it was just too thick...I couldn't breathe."

Thompson said he screamed his neighbors' names but heard no response.

According to the sheriff's office, emergency crews found Alice lying on the kitchen floor. She was treated at the scene and rushed to Largo Medical Center where she later died.

Once the fire was out, crews found a second victim inside, who detectives believe is her daughter, Marlene.

Thompson said he admired his neighbor for remaining active and taking care of her daughter well into her nineties.

"I just wish I could have got there and got them out."

The State Fire Marshal is on scene investigating what caused the fire.  Investigators are working with the medical examiner to determine the exact causes of death.