Fundraiser for Escondido Family Devastated by Deadly Mobile Home Fire Set for Thursday

ESCONDIDO, CA – The Escondido and greater San Diego community is continuing to come together to support a local family that lost two children and their home following last week's deadly mobile home fire.

The Chick-fil-A Escondido restaurant is set to host a fundraiser for the Flores family on Thursday, Jan. 5. A percentage of all sales will be donated to the Escondido family, who lost 5-year-old Elizette Orozco and her 11-year-old uncle Diego Floresvidal in the fire, which officials believe may have been sparked by a Christmas tree.

“One of Chick-fil-A Escondido’s goals is to support members of our community,” said Jordan Ciervo, franchise operator of Chick-fil-A Escondido. “We are heartbroken by this tragic event and hope we can positively impact the Flores family during these hard times.”

The Dec. 29 fire started near a Christmas tree in the mobile home at the Green Crest Mobile Home Park in Escondido. It was reported shortly after 12:30 a.m. and took more than 40 firefighters from Escondido, San Marcos and Vista about 35 minutes to put out.

Orozco was pronounced dead at the scene of the fire, while Floresvidal died the following day at a hospital, the Medical Examiner said.

Four other children and three adults were hospitalized for smoke inhalation. They are expected to make full recoveries. The home was destroyed.

Escondido Fire Chief Russ Knowles said the official cause of the fire had not yet been determined, but it may have been sparked by an electrical failure or a candle near a Christmas tree. No smoke detectors were found in the home.

More than $55,000 had been donated to the family's GoFundMe.com page as of Wednesday afternoon.

Chick-fil-A Escondido’s fundraiser is scheduled for 5-8 p.m. Customers are asked to mention the Flores family when placing a dine-in, carry-out or drive-thru order at the restaurant, and a percentage of sales will go directly to benefit the family.

Chick-fil-A Escondido is located at 1290 Auto Park Way.

City News Service contributed to this report. / Image via GoFundMe