A birthday celebration in Pennsylvania turned tragic when a house fire claimed five lives. Among the first responders was EMT Azelyn Arenas, who discovered in horror that her 4-year-old daughter, Veyda Pereyra, was among the victims.

A routine morning shift became a parent’s worst nightmare for EMT Azelyn Arenas when a house fire in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, claimed the life of her 4-year-old daughter, Veyda Pereyra, among four other victims. Arenas described her daughter as “the light in every room, our baby, our only child, and we’ll forever miss her,” highlighting the personal tragedy intertwined with her professional duties.

The fire occurred on Sunday, September 28, at 815 Church Street, where Veyda had been under the care of 73-year-old Josefina Estevez while Arenas was on duty. Lebanon Fire Department was dispatched at 8:43 a.m., finding the first and second floors fully engulfed in flames, with ten people trapped inside. Many of the occupants were attending a birthday celebration, intensifying the chaos.

Firefighters called for additional support as they attempted rescues. Three victims were transported to a local hospital, but conditions worsened, forcing responders to fight the blaze from outside before re-entering to recover two more victims. The city reported that four people died, one remained in critical condition, and another was stable. Four others escaped with minor injuries.

Tragically, the fire claimed the lives of Veyda, her caretaker Estevez, 1-year-old Amarri Morris Rodriguez, and 17-year-old Jaeden Nunez. Lebanon Mayor Sherry Capello confirmed the fifth victim as 23-year-old Tailing Nunez, who remains in critical condition. Investigators determined the fire originated from an electrical outlet in the first-floor living room, ruling it accidental, though inquiries continue.

First Aid & Safety Patrol, where Arenas works, expressed profound grief over the incident. “There are no words to capture the pain of losing a child, and no words to describe the heartbreak of being an emergency responder faced with your own child as a victim,” the organization wrote. Arenas herself established a GoFundMe to honor Veyda, calling her “a precious angel baby” and sharing the family’s heartbreak.

The incident has deeply affected both the local community and first responders, shedding light on the immense emotional toll faced by those who serve others, even while enduring unimaginable personal loss. Community members have rallied around Arenas and her family, offering support as they mourn the tragedy.

This fire stands as a sobering reminder of the fragility of life and the courage of first responders, whose own families are sometimes caught in the tragedies they rush to prevent.