GREENWOOD, Ark. — A house fire in Greenwood left three people dead and one hospitalized on Wednesday, Oct. 30, according to the Greenwood Police Department (GPD).
GPD has since identified the victims as 18-year-old Isaiah Arrington, 5-year-old Vivian Medrano, and their mother, 46-year-old Wendy Medrano.
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The hospitalized victim has not been identified, but officials said they are "critically injured."
Family told 5NEWS that Wendy owned The House Collective, a thrift store in Greenwood, and that she loved her community.
Grandparents said they'd picked up Vivian the day before not knowing it would be their last time.
Isaiah and Vivian were students at Greenwood Public Schools.
"We are heartbroken to share the tragic news of a house fire in the Greenwood community early this morning, which claimed the lives of two beloved Greenwood students," the district said in a Facebook post.
The school district said counseling will be available for students who need it, and a prayer vigil took place at the Greenwood High School football field on Oct. 30.
Isaiah was a member of the Greenwood High School football team. Teammate and Greenwood quarterback Kane Archer spoke to 5NEWS about the impact his death has had on the team.
"I mean, all of us are obviously in disbelief, and we really can't believe it. I figured out last night I woke up this morning when my dad told me, I just dropped the tears," Archer said. "I've been with Isaiah since I was eight years old, and he's meant so much to me. We've gone through a bunch of stuff together."
Archer said he drove up to the school this morning immediately after he heard the news. He said he walked in and saw his coach and teammates, all grappling with the tragic incident.
"When you look at the guy, he's always smiling, you have a choice when you wake up if you want to be happy or mad and every single day, he wakes up to be happy," Archer said. "Isaiah was such a positive, uplifting person, and everybody's really, we're all in disbelief, and we can't believe it, and I'm sure that moving forward it's going to be tough for the community, for all of us."
Archer shared that the family was close and that they wanted Isaiah to do big things, showing up to his games every Friday night as he chased his dream of playing at Missouri State.
He said his mom had been longtime friends with Wendy and that he had known Vivian since she was a baby.
"She was growing up, you know, and it's so sad to see that they don't get to live out their life, it's heartbreaking," Archer said.
"My thoughts and my prayers go out to them, and I know that they're all in a better place right now, and Isaiah is watching over us. We just decided we're going to play against Southside this Friday because if Isaiah was in our shoes, he'd want us to play," Archer added. "We've just got to keep our heads high. We're all going to get through this. Things like this happen in life, but we have to stay strong together. The only way we're going to get through it is stay together."
Greenwood police said the fire happened shortly after midnight on East Hickory Street.
"Police and firefighters worked tirelessly throughout the night into the morning hours to combat the fully engulfed house," GPD explained.
The cause of the fire is still unknown, but officials said they are still investigating, and the victims' bodies have been transported to the Arkansas State Crime Lab.
"We extend our gratitude to the neighbors who initially responded to the fire, as well as to the Greenwood Fire Department, the Fort Smith Fire Department, and all first responders who worked diligently during this emergency," GPD said.
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