ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. — A deep sense of grief has fallen over the Escambia County community following a devastating mobile home fire that claimed the lives of 9-year-old Vayden Orum and 7-year-old Rayden Smith, along with the family’s beloved dog, early Friday morning.
The tragedy unfolded just before 1 a.m., when Escambia County Fire Rescue responded to reports of a fully involved mobile home fire in the 5900 block of Flaxman Street within the Grand Oak Mobile Home Park, off 61st Avenue. When firefighters arrived, they were met with intense flames and heavy smoke engulfing the residence.
“Upon arriving on scene, heavy flames and smoke engulfed a single-wide mobile home, with reports of two children inside the home,” officials said in a statement. “Due to the severity of the fire, ECFR immediately began firefighting efforts so firefighters could enter the home. Upon making entry, two children and one dog were found deceased.”
The blaze was extinguished by 1:17 a.m., but by then, the heartbreaking discovery had been made.
Escambia County EMS treated two adults and one child at the scene for fire-related injuries before transporting them to local hospitals for further care. Family members have since identified the young victims as Vayden Orum and Rayden Smith, both students at Sherwood Elementary School, located just a mile from their home.
Their grandmother, Lisa Pinegar, spoke through tears, calling the tragedy “a bad dream — a real bad dream.” Pinegar shared that five children lived in the home with their mother, who now faces the unimaginable task of moving forward after such a tremendous loss.
School officials at Sherwood Elementary have offered grief counseling and mental health resources for students and staff impacted by the news.
A GoFundMe campaign has been created to help the family with funeral expenses, relocation, and recovery efforts as they begin to rebuild their lives. Pinegar, who resides in Tennessee, said the family will be staying with her while they heal and determine their next steps.
The home was declared a total loss, according to authorities. The Florida Bureau of Fire, Arson, and Explosives is investigating the cause of the blaze with assistance from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
As the investigation continues, the community has rallied around the grieving family, offering prayers, donations, and heartfelt condolences.
Vayden and Rayden are remembered as bright, joyful, and loving children who brought warmth and laughter wherever they went. Their absence leaves a void that words cannot fill, but their memory will forever remain in the hearts of their loved ones and classmates.
🕊️ May Vayden and Rayden rest in eternal peace — two beautiful souls gone too soon, but never forgotten.