Family of Modesto mother, children caught in deadly fire faces difficult choice
The family of a Modesto mother and her 9-year-old daughter face the toughest decision they’ve ever had to make: when to pull their life support and say their final goodbyes.
Early Sunday, a fire broke out at a two-story duplex on Leon Avenue in west Modesto. Firefighters found Maribel Iniguez, 35, and her two daughters trapped inside. Maribel’s 7-year-old daughter died on the way to the hospital.
According to family members, Maribel’s 9-year-old daughter suffered severe brain and lung damage, and doctors say she won’t survive. Maribel herself recently was declared brain-dead. She is survived by two other daughters, ages 11 and 17, and her sister, Veronica Iniguez.
“Honestly, I’m overwhelmed, I don’t know what to do,” Veronica said. “It’s hard to decide … to disconnect or not. But the doctor says their body, their heart, is giving up. If I don’t decide anything, their heart could stop any minute.”
Fire officials have not said what caused the fire — an investigation by the Stanislaus Fire Investigation Unit could take months to verify what did. But Veronica said she was told by firefighters that it started in the garage and that a damaged exhaust hose on the water heater may have had something to do with it. It’s unclear, though, whether the hose damage was the cause or the result of the fire.
Fumes from the fire, the water heater, or both, killed Maribel and her daughters, Veronica said. Doctors told her that, at least for the children, it likely was painless.
“It was too much for the little ones. … You know, the good thing, like the doctor said, they did not suffer any pain. They did not suffer through trauma. … They just went like if they were asleep,” their aunt said.
Six survivors of the fire were left with nothing but the clothes on their back. Flames and toxic smoke destroyed nearly all of their possessions. Veronica said staff at Sacramento’s University of California Davis Medical Center and the American Red Cross were doing what they could to help her family.
The family has begun a crowd-funding campaign through GoFundMe to pay for medical bills, funerals, clothes and replacing the physical items they lost. The campaign raised $7,900 of its $60,000 goal as of Wednesday afternoon.
Veronica said her family was full of strong women, including Maribel.
“My sister was the best. I could say the best sister, mother, you can name it. She was always looking out for those girls,” she said. “There wasn’t a day that my sister came home from work without bringing these girls flowers, cakes or anything just to put a smile on these girls’ faces.”
As she and Maribel’s mother grieve, Veronica said she’s assumed the position of matriarch — handling the family’s affairs and tough decisions. The girls’ father and grandfather are on their way from Mexico. Veronica said she is exhausted, but trying her best.
Fire department officials say they will not release any additional information until their investigation has finished.
This story was originally published March 25, 2026 at 4:51 PM.
