Mom unable to save herself, kids in fire.
Father badly burned trying to save family; cause of the blaze still under investigation
HUFFMAN — When a fire broke out in their mobile home in rural northeastern Harris County early Wednesday, Natalie and David Tienda desperately tried to rescue their two kids.
But the woman and her two children, ages 9 and 11, perished in the blaze that tore through their small mobile home amid icy weather. David Tienda barely survived.
When the Huffman Volunteer Fire Department responded to the call at the Tienda home on Cherry Laurel around 4 a.m., they found the distraught father outside, covered in burns and warning fire crews his family was still trapped in the home.
Natalie Tienda, 33, and her children Kiki and Tristan all died in the blaze, according to friends and neighbors.
“He was trying to go in and get his family out,” said Capt. Dean Hensley of the Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office. “He did everything he could; he just wasn’t able to get to them. The fire was just too intense.”
Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire, though Hensley noted that there were space heaters inside. It’s not clear whether the home had smoke detectors, the fire marshal’s office said late Wednesday.
“We understand from talking to the dad that obviously she was trying to get them and get out — they were both trying to get the kids out,” Hensley said. “Obviously when you’re in smoke and
fire, you get disoriented. You get overcome by the smoke, and sometimes people just collapse where they are.”
The blaze came amid a burst of winter weather that nearly paralyzed the county, shuttering schools and businesses and hampering roadway travel.
By the time Huffman firefighters made it over the icy streets to the rural home, smoke and flames had already engulfed the small trailer.
“The fire department did everything they could do, but there was just too much fire when they got here,” Hensley said.
Authorities said the mother and her children were in their bedrooms when the blaze began.
When fire crews made it inside, they found the woman dead in the back of the home, along with her 9-year-old son and 11-yearold daughter, according to authorities.
“She probably perished trying to save her kids,” Hensley said.
The father was transported to the hospital with first-, second- and thirddegree burns.
Officials initially reported that a third child died in the flames but later clarified that he was not home at the time.
While investigators worked to determine where and when the blaze started, friends and community members offered condolences.
“She had a hard life, but she’s always been an awesome mom,” said Denise Armstrong, whose mother lives across the street from the Tienda family.
In recent months, the Tiendas had renewed their faith and joined a local church, according to friends.
“She’s just been doing really well,” Armstrong said.
Both children attended Huffman ISD, which issued a statement Wednesday offering its “deepest condolences.”
“Our counselors and administrators will be on hand at CES tomorrow to support all students during this difficult time,” the statement said. “We ask our community to lift this family in prayer.”
Acquaintances described Tienda as a “good mother” and recalled happier times during shared birthday parties and festivities. In Facebook posts, family said the loss “doesn’t seem real” and friends offered prayers.
“She had a good relationship with the kids,” said neighbor Marlen Gama. “They loved her so much. She would die for them.”
“She had a hard life, but she’s always been an awesome mom.” Denise Armstrong, whose mother lives across the street from the Tienda family