PORT ARTHUR, Texas — A GoFundMe has been set up to help the family of two fatal house fire victims.
Firefighters with the Port Arthur Fire Department were sent to a home in the 4000 block of Griffing Drive at about 2:30 a.m., according to Port Arthur Fire Chief Gregory Benson. The cause of the fire is currently unknown.
The bodies of Antonio Mendoza, 70 and Teresa Maldonado-Mendoza, 74, were found inside the home by firefighters, according to Jefferson County Precinct Eight Justice of the Peace Tom Gillam III . They were pronounced dead at the scene.
The house received "significant damage." Firefighters were able to contain the fire, and no other nearby houses were damaged.
The cause of the fire and the deaths are under investigation and Judge Gillam ordered autopsies.
The victim's granddaughter, Maria Ortiz, set up the page to help with funeral expenses.
"They were the sweetest and kindest persons ever. They would always smile and try to help everyone they could," Ortiz said in the GoFundMe.
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This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.