Two California girls dead after house fire sparked by Christmas tree

Two California girls are dead after their family's home went up in flames in a fire local outlets report was sparked by a Christmas tree.

The house fire happened on Dec. 14, in Barstow, California, a town about two hours northeast of Los Angeles. One girl, age 2, died from her injuries the night of the fire, the Barstow fire department said. Her sister, age 7, died a couple days later after receiving care at a local hospital, the department said.

A third sibling who was rescued by firefighters received treatment and was resuscitated by emergency responders on the way to the hospital, Barstow fire battalion Chief Cory Cisneros told USA TODAY on Thursday.

Sisters Aalijah Isom, 2, and Annie Isom, 7, were remembered by their parents in a GoFundMe page as loving girls who spread joy to their four other siblings.

"Our family's bond was a tapestry of love, inseparable and woven with unconditional affection," the family's GoFundMe says.

The night of the fire, parents Charmon and Akeem Isom said they saw their live Christmas tree engulfed in flames, the couple told ABC 7 News.

USA TODAY's attempts to speak with Charmon and Akeem were unsuccessful on Thursday.

Cisneros confirmed there was a Christmas tree located in the living room of the home.

1 smoke detector sounded in garage

When firefighters arrived at the family's four-bedroom house, there was a smoke detector that was going off in the garage, according to Cisneros. An unknown number of smoke detectors may have been elsewhere in the house, he said.

The fire department has not determined whether there were working smoke detectors in the fire's potential room of origin, Cisneros said.

There were functional fire extinguishers that had been discharged at the home, Cisneros said, but it's unknown if they belonged to the Isom family or if neighbors brought them to try to put out the flames.

The cause of the fire was still under investigation as of Thursday, Cisneros said.

Officials are waiting for the girls' causes of death to be announced by a local medical examiner, he said.

The family is staying with relatives, ABC 7 News reported, and the parents plan to use money donated to their GoFundMe to relocate, the fundraiser says.

In addition to ensuring a home has working smoke detectors and fire extinguishers, Cisneros said it's important for families to regularly practice fire evacuation techniques.

"Practice exit drills within the home for family safety and security during any type of catastrophic incident," Cisneros told USA TODAY.

Cisneros also said to make sure exits are clear and free of clutter.

How to prevent Christmas tree fires

Christmas tree fires can quickly become dangerous because live Christmas trees catch fire very quickly, according to experts.

"When a Christmas tree burns, particularly when it's dried out, it can go up in flames in moments, and it will spread very quickly," the National Fire Protection Association's Susan McKelvey told USA TODAY last year. "People have such a small window of time to escape safely."

McKelvey said when shopping for trees, people should run their hands through the tree to see if any needles fall off. If they do, then best to not buy.

Yana Valachovic, University of California cooperative extension forest advisor, said before placing the tree at home, it should be given a fresh cut at the bottom so the tree can absorb water. The NFPS recommends cutting at least two inches from the base of the trunk.

When decorating the tree, Valachovic added to not use any candles and make sure all lights being put on it don't have any exposed wires. McKelvey said LED lights are the best type to put on a tree, and turn the lights off before going to bed or if no one will be home.

"Some lights are designed for outdoor use only, some are designed for indoor use only. Some are both, but you have to really follow the manufacturer's instructions," McKelvey said.

People should also check the tree's water level daily, as well make sure the tree isn't blocking any potential exits, such as doors and windows, and away from any heat sources like a fireplace.

Contributing: Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY