TEMPE, Ariz. — A fifth person has died after a Tempe mobile home burned down on August 25, police said.
Valerie Gonzalez, 22, died last Friday after fighting for her life for more than two weeks.
"We don't know why this happened, we don't," Jennifer Gonzalez, her aunt, said. "She was barely starting her life, she was only 22."
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Valerie Gonzalez's entire world revolved around her two daughters, Ariaelly, who also went by Rose, and Ellany Ruiz.
"They were just like the best family you could ever see," Jennifer Gonzalez said. "She loved them, they loved her, we loved being around them."
Tragedy struck her family the night of Aug. 25 when the mobile home they were living in became engulfed in flames.
Four people died including Valerie Gonzalez's two daughters, her boyfriend and his mother.
"I was shocked. I couldn't believe it. I was like no it cannot be my niece. It cannot be their family. Like there's no way," Michelle Gonzalez, her aunt, said.
Valerie Gonzalez was initially the sole survivor but was hospitalized in critical condition.
"Valerie's a hero. She's a fighter," Jennifer Gonzalez said. "She went into the home several times to pull one of the babies out."
Her family is now remembering her as a beautiful, bubbly and charismatic young woman.
"It's not a specific memory that we cherish, it's every memory that we cherish at this moment in time because we didn't expect her to be gone, her or the girls," Jennifer Gonzalez said.
Investigators are still trying to figure out what caused the fire.
"That's what's killing us because we had the hope of Valerie surviving and letting us know what happened," Jennifer Gonzalez said.
They're hoping to spread awareness about fire safety in hopes of preventing any future tragedies.
"Check your fire alarms. I don't know if they had any at the time but now that this happened, I'm like looking like you check your fire alarms," Michelle Gonzalez said.
A GoFundMe page was created to help the Gonzalez family pay for funeral expenses. Click here to donate.
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