CONROE, Texas – Friends, family and even those who don’t know the Johnson family placed teddy bears, flowers and balloons in front of the home where three children died in a house fire early Friday morning.
“I know Terrance, he’s my best friend and it’s sad that he’s not here today,” said Caige Lotz who was a classmate of 13-year-old Terrance Mitchell at Dolly Vogel Intermediate School.
[Details: 3 children found dead after Montgomery County house fire, officials say]
“He always had a smile on his face, and he always made other people smile when he walked into the class room,” Lotz said. “He was just funny all the time and he never mean to anybody that I knew of.”
The community of Tamina is shocked about the fire which killed Terrance and his siblings 6-year-old Kaila and 5-year-old Kyle.
Authorities said police were called to the 19000 block of Johnson Road a little after 4 a.m. to the home where the family of eight lived.
Authorities said Pastor Bobby Johnson, 61, of Thergood Memorial Church of God In Christ was able to break a second floor window and get most of the family out.
Prince said Johnson and his son Jarvis, 34, have second degree burns to their faces and torso and were taken to the hospital.
“They're distraught about their loss of course, especially Jarvis he tried to save the children,” said Paul Prince a family friend of the Johnson family who has visited them in the hospital. “He was really upset he couldn’t get to the smaller kids,”
The children’s brother, 10-year-old Adrian Mitchell, also suffered burns and remains in critical condition in the hospital.
The children's grandmother, 57-year-old Carrie Johnson suffered minor cuts and was taken to Memorial Hermann in The Woodlands.
Authorities said the children’s mother, Carrie Johnson, was treated and released.
“I just looked out my bedroom window and it just looked like the whole world was on fire,” said family friend Janis Pierson Henderson. “This family is a loving, kind family. They need prayer. They need support right now.”
The children's father was out of state for work and was not home at the time of the fire, according to Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Jimmy Williams.
Authorities are still investigating what caused the fire, but don’t believe there were smoke detectors in the home.
The family lost everything and people in the community are rallying together to donate money, clothes, blankets and other household items.
Businesses, like MW Cleaners in Montgomery County, have set up drop off sites for people to donations.
• 2111 Spring Cypress Rd. 100, Spring, TX 77388
• 523 E Louetta Rd Ste. H, Spring, TX 77373
• 415 Rayford Rd., Spring, TX 77386
• 4747 Research Forest Dr, The Woodlands, TX 77381
• 3068 College Park Dr, Conroe, TX 77384
A Gofundme Page has been set up to help the surviving members of the family.