Jacksonville house fire kills three children of Albanian family

A devastating house fire in the Mandarin area of Jacksonville, Florida, has claimed the lives of three children from an Albanian family. The incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, August 26, at a two-story residence on Windergate Drive.

According to Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department Chief Percy Golden, the alarm was raised around 05:13. While two adults and two children managed to escape the building before firefighters arrived, three other children—identified in some reports as 11-year-old twins and a 2-year-old—were found deceased inside. Two other family members, a 9-year-old and a 2-month-old infant, remain in critical condition in the hospital.

Witnesses reported a dramatic rescue attempt where an infant and an adult were thrown from a second-story window and caught by bystanders. The fire completely destroyed the home and damaged two adjacent units. The Manati family, originally from Lushnja, Albania, has seen community support through a GoFundMe campaign organized by a relative to assist with medical and funeral expenses. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by the State Fire Marshal.