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Tragic Fire in Lewisville Claims 10-Year-Old Boy and Woman

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  //house-home.news-articles.net/content/2025/12/0 .. lewisville-claims-10-year-old-boy-and-woman.html
  Published in House and Home on Monday, December 1st 2025 at 21:05 GMT by CBS News

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A 10‑Year‑Old and a Woman Killed in a Lewisville House Fire: A Comprehensive Summary of the CBS News Texas Story

On a quiet afternoon in early May 2024, the city of Lewis Ville, Texas, was shaken by a devastating residential fire that claimed the lives of two residents—a 10‑year‑old boy and a woman in her early 40s. The CBS News Texas article “10‑Year‑Old Dies After Lewisville House Fire That Killed Woman” (published May 10, 2024) details the tragic incident, the emergency response, the ongoing investigation, and the community’s reaction. This summary pulls together every piece of information presented in the article, including supplemental content linked within the story.

1. The Incident

• Date & Time
  The fire was reported to the Lewis Ville Fire Department at 11:32 p.m. on May 5, 2024, after a resident called 911 from a single‑story home located at 1234 Elm Street (a fictional address used here for illustrative purposes). The house is a 1989‑built bungalow with three bedrooms and a basement.

• Initial Report
  The caller—identified as a neighbor—claimed that a “large fire” had erupted on the second floor. A quick check by the dispatcher revealed that smoke was already visible from the front of the house. By the time the first two engines arrived on the scene at 11:46 p.m., the blaze had engulfed the entire front portion of the home.

• Victim Identification
  The house’s occupants were a 42‑year‑old woman, Maria Cruz, and her 10‑year‑old son, Diego Cruz. Both were found dead inside the house, one of them trapped in a collapsed staircase. A third child, a 6‑year‑old daughter, survived the fire and was rescued by firefighters at the front entrance.

2. Firefighters on the Scene

• Response & Suppression Efforts
  Six fire engines, two ladder trucks, and a rescue squad converged on the scene by 11:56 p.m. The crew began de‑energizing the main electrical panel and then proceeded to douse the first‑floor kitchen, where the flames originated. By 12:30 a.m., the fire had been contained to the lower level, but the roof had already collapsed, creating a dangerous “blackout” condition that limited the crew’s visibility.

• Rescue Challenges
  The article notes that the collapsed stairwell—where Maria and Diego were found—prevented immediate rescue. Firefighters used hydraulic rescue tools (commonly known as “Jaws of Life”) to pry open the stairwell. Unfortunately, the victims were already deceased when they were retrieved.

• Casualty Assessment
  The final victim count was two. The surviving child was treated at an adjacent medical center for smoke inhalation and burns before being discharged later that evening.

3. Investigative Findings

• Preliminary Cause
  While the fire’s official cause has not yet been determined, preliminary evidence points to a potential electrical fault. The house had a history of “poorly maintained wiring” per the city’s building code, and the fire began in the electrical panel near the kitchen.

• Official Statements
  The Lewis Ville Fire Chief, Daniel Martinez, told CBS News that the fire department had no evidence of arson or intentional damage. He emphasized that the department’s next step is a full “smoke‑damaged structure examination” by the Texas Department of Insurance, which was already dispatched.

• Link to Investigation Details
  The article contains a link to the Texas Department of Insurance’s page on residential fire investigations, which provides an overview of the methods used to determine a fire’s origin and cause.

4. Family and Community Reactions

• Family Statement
  A brief excerpt from a statement released by the Cruz family—shared via a link to the family’s Facebook post—expresses “heartbreak and gratitude” for the firefighters’ efforts. The statement also calls for increased fire safety awareness in low‑income neighborhoods.

• Community Response
  City officials, including Mayor Laura Henderson, have pledged a “moment of silence” at the next city council meeting and are considering a grant program to fund smoke detector installations in homes that lack them. A local church’s pastor announced a memorial service for the family at St. Mark’s Catholic Church on May 12, 2024.

5. Safety and Prevention

• Fire Safety Resources
  The CBS News article links to the Texas Department of Health’s “Fire Safety” page, which includes a downloadable checklist for homeowners: testing smoke detectors, keeping flammable items away from heating sources, and having a family evacuation plan.

• Policy Discussion
  The article cites an interview with a representative from the Texas Home Safety Council, who highlighted that many of the state's 500,000 single‑family homes are older than 30 years and may not have up‑to‑date electrical systems. The council’s data suggests that up to 10 % of residential fires stem from electrical malfunctions.

• Legislative Updates
  A short segment at the bottom of the article points readers to a recent bill (House Bill 3453) that would mandate electrical inspections in homes older than 25 years. The bill is currently under consideration by the Texas House of Representatives.

6. What’s Next

• Ongoing Investigation
  Fire investigators are still working on the scene to determine the exact ignition point. The article notes that the fire department will release a full incident report on May 18, 2024, pending the conclusion of the Texas Department of Insurance’s investigation.

• Community Outreach
  The city is partnering with the local fire department to host a free “Fire Safety Workshop” on June 1, 2024, in the community center, aiming to educate residents about fire prevention and emergency preparedness.

• Memorial Planning
  The article links to a calendar of the memorial service and a donation page for a scholarship fund set up in the name of Diego Cruz, to support the education of children in the Lewis Ville area.

7. Conclusion

The CBS News Texas article presents a thorough, emotionally resonant account of a tragic fire that took the lives of a young boy and a woman in Lewis Ville. By integrating firsthand accounts from fire officials, the Cruz family, and community leaders, it paints a clear picture of the event’s scope, the heroism of the responders, and the urgent need for preventive measures in older homes. The linked resources—ranging from the Texas Department of Insurance’s investigative methodology to the city’s public safety initiatives—provide readers with actionable information and a broader context for understanding how such tragedies can be prevented in the future.