Fatal Fire: Arlington Mom Dies Trying to Save Daughter, 7

A mother and daughter have died in a house fire in the early morning hours Tuesday in south Arlington County, according to the Arlington County Fire Department.

NBC-4 reports mom Mary Barkes was outside of the home and was one of the first to call 911 in the early morning hours. She then went back inside the house to try to save her 7-year-old daughter Emily from an upstairs bedroom before the fire spread. Both were trapped in the house and died. Dad Bill Barkes was able to get out and rescued 11-year old daughter Sarah.

Early this morning, Arlington County Fire Department (ACFD) responded to the house fire in the 1100 block of S. Emerson Street in south Arlington. The neighborhood is near S. Four Mile Run Drive and S. George Mason Drive.

Firefighters arrived to find two victims — Bill Barkes and daughter Sarah — outside the home with reports of two additional people— mom Mary Barkes and daughter Emily — trapped inside. Firefighters encountered a large volume of fire on the first and second floors.

The firefighters called a second alarm, bringing a total of approximately 70 firefighters to the scene, including personnel from Fairfax Fire and Rescue Department and Alexandria Fire Department. It took approximately 15 minutes to bring the fire under control and locate the bodies of the two deceased victims.

The two victims found outside the home were transported by medic unit for smoke inhalation and burns to Medstar Washington Hospital Center and Children’s National Medical Center, both in stable condition.

ACFD Fire Marshals are investigating the origin and cause of the fire, with assistance from Arlington County Police Department (ACPD) and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

One occupant reported the home had no working smoke alarms and they were alerted to the fire by the sound of crackling. Smoke alarms allow for early warning of a fire, increasing the time for escape and the chances of survival.

ACFD urges everyone to:

• Install smoke alarms on every floor and in every bedroom.
• Test the alarms every month by pushing the test button.
• Change the batteries in the alarms twice a year with daylight savings time.
• Replace all alarms every 10 years, or according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Ensure every person in your home knows and practices your home escape plan. Include a plan for anyone in your home that needs assistance evacuating. Remember to have two ways out of every room, get low, close the door behind you, go to your family meeting place and once outside, stay outside.

Read more information on smoke alarms or request a smoke alarm if you cannot afford to purchase one.

PHOTO from Arlington County Fire Department via Twitter