2 parents dead, infant child badly hurt in Waterbury house fire
WATERBURY — Two parents have died and their baby boy is “fighting for his life” after they were pulled from a burning home Wednesday morning, a family member said.
Alexia Moreno, 25, and her partner Freddie Lawson, 45, died in a house fire at their home at 18 Third St. in Waterbury.
Their son, 17-month-old Nasir, is in critical condition at Yale New Haven Hospital, where he was airlifted following the fire Wednesday, according to family members.
“He is fighting probably the biggest fight of his life,” said Rachele Dean, Moreno's cousin. “Please pray to whomever you believe in that Nasir can recover.”
Dean remembered Moreno as “a beautiful person and a wonderful woman.”
“She was a beautiful person inside and out; she was an amazing mother and person in general. Her life and all her interests revolved around Nasir, she wanted everything perfect for him,” Dean said.
Dean said Moreno, a first-time mother, would often reach out to other family members, recounting everything about baby Nasir in great detail “just to make sure she was doing everything right.”
In addition to watching after Nasir, Moreno also assisted with the health care of Lawson, who had suffered several strokes.
“They stood by each other through everything and anything someone or something can throw at them. She enjoyed family time with Nasir and Fred,” Dean added.
Dean said Moreno's wider family is “distraught and devastated” regarding the sudden loss. She called what happened to her cousin and her family a “tragedy.”
“This fire took their lives and left their son Nasir fighting for his life without his loving parents by his side. Yes, I'm sure they are there with him is spirit but it's not the same. It never will be,” Dean said.
Waterbury Fire Chief Terrence J. Ballou said the fire that took the two parents' lives began around 10:10 a.m. on Wednesday morning.
At the scene, firefighters encountered heavy flames on the upper levels of the three-story wood-frame house, he said.
The family of three were eventually found in the home's the top floor, Ballou said.
Dean said that anyone looking to help with funeral costs can donate to the Riverview Funeral Home in Shelton.