Lackawanna House Fire Leaves Mother, Daughter Dead and Two Children Injured

I saw the first reports late Tuesday night—fire crews rushing to a home on Girard Avenue in Lackawanna. I’ve read enough of these to brace for the worst. But this one hit different.

A 28-year-old mother, Felicia Toporek, and her 4-year-old daughter, Audrey Zosowski, didn’t make it out alive. Two of her other children—a 5-year-old and a 1-month-old—were rushed to the hospital. One of them had to be pulled from the roof by firefighters.

The fire broke out just before 10:30 p.m. at 27 Girard Ave. When crews arrived, the back of the home was already engulfed in flames. People were trapped inside. Neighbors could only watch helplessly as emergency responders worked through smoke and heat to get them out.

You can imagine the scene. The kind of chaos no family ever prepares for—and no neighbor forgets.

What do you think communities can do better to prevent tragedies like this? Let me know your thoughts below.

What Firefighters Faced That Night?

When I read the details of what first responders walked into, it gave me chills.

According to WIVB, the call came in just before 10:30 p.m. A home on Girard Avenue was burning fast—flames were pouring out the back of the house. Inside were four children and their mother.

Firefighters didn’t waste a second. One child was rescued straight from the roof. All four kids, along with their mom, were pulled out and taken to nearby hospitals. But despite everything they tried, Felicia and little Audrey didn’t survive.

Just imagine being one of the neighbors watching that unfold, knowing kids were still inside. Or worse—imagine being a firefighter trying to make it in and out in time.

That kind of response takes everything—courage, speed, and split-second decisions. It’s a reminder of how much these crews carry on their shoulders.

Just last month, a deadly fire in Clayton left a man dead inside his home—proving again how quickly these tragedies unfold.

Community Shock and Grief: “It Was Very Upsetting”

I’ll be honest, what stayed with me the most wasn’t just the fire—it was what came after.

WGRZ shared a quote from Halie Weiglein, a Mercy Hospital employee who saw the family arrive. She wasn’t related to them. Didn’t know their names. But her voice shook when she said, “It was very upsetting… hard to see the children in such vulnerable states.”

That says a lot, doesn’t it? You don’t have to know someone for tragedy to hit close to home. Especially when it’s kids involved.

Halie said the community’s response moved her—people showing up with candles, flowers, anything they could offer. And I get that. Sometimes you just need to do something to show that these lives mattered.

It’s moments like this where a community either pulls together or pulls apart. Lackawanna chose to come together. That matters.

Sadly, this isn’t the first time a home fire has taken lives despite fast emergency response—one person was also found dead inside a Maine home after a similar fire.

Who They Were: A Mother and Her Children

We now know the names. And for me, once names are attached to stories, it changes everything.

Felicia Toporek was 28. She was the mother of three young kids, including Audrey Zosowski, just 4 years old. Audrey died alongside her mom that night. The other two kids—just five years old and a newborn—are still in the hospital.

I don’t know much about Felicia personally. But I do know she died trying to keep her children safe. And Audrey? She was just a toddler, probably asleep when the fire started.

These weren’t just “victims.” They were a family. A mother, trying her best. Kids with their whole lives ahead. That’s how I think we need to talk about them—not just as numbers in a headline.

If you’ve ever had kids—or even just cared for one—you can feel how devastating that must have been in those final moments.

If you’ve experienced something similar, or just want to share a message for this family—drop it in the comments below. Your words could mean more than you think.

The Cause Is Still Under Investigation

So far, officials haven’t confirmed how the fire started. The cause is still under investigation.

That’s frustrating, I know. Whenever something this big happens, you and I both want answers. Was it electrical? A cooking fire? Something that could’ve been prevented?

Until the investigation wraps up, all we can do is wait. But while we wait, it’s worth thinking about our own homes. I checked mine the same night—smoke alarms, exit routes, all of it. Because you just never know.

You may not be able to control everything, but trust me, a working smoke detector can mean the difference between life and death. Especially when you’ve got little ones.

I noticed a few people discussing this same concern—how fast a fire spreads—on a WhatsApp channel where folks share real-time updates on home safety incidents. It’s eye-opening how many of these tragedies start with small, unnoticed hazards.

What This Fire Reminds Us About Home Safety?

After something like this, I always ask myself—could it happen to me? To my building? To my family?

The hard truth is, yes. Fires don’t discriminate. And most of us don’t think about fire safety until it’s too late.

If you’ve got kids at home, especially little ones like Felicia did, you need to have working smoke alarms on every level of your house. Not just one. Test them once a month. Keep fire extinguishers near the kitchen. Plan your escape routes—and talk to your kids about what to do.

It doesn’t have to be complicated. But it has to be done.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), most deadly home fires happen overnight, just like this one. That’s when people are asleep, alarms aren’t working, and there’s no time to think.

I’m not trying to scare you. I’m just telling you what I’ve learned. Because if this story hits close to your heart, then maybe it’s also the right moment to make a few small changes at home.

In another recent case, a fire in Kennewick destroyed a home and left two firefighters suffering from heat exhaustion, showing how dangerous these rescues can be even for trained crews.

A Family We Shouldn’t Forget

I can’t stop thinking about the silence that must’ve followed after the sirens left.

One mother. One daughter. Gone. Two young children, now without them.

That’s the kind of loss that shakes a whole neighborhood—and it should. Because it reminds us how fragile life is. How fast everything can change. And how much every second matters when something goes wrong.

But it also reminds us that people still care. That even in the darkest moments, someone lights a candle. Someone brings flowers. Someone writes their name so they’re not forgotten.

For more real stories that matter to home safety and community, visit our website Build Like New.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is based on reports available at the time of writing. Details may change as the investigation continues. We aim to report responsibly and with respect for the families affected.