8-year-old girl dies in Barrow County house fire

BARROW COUNTY, Ga. - An 8-year-old girl is dead after a house fire in Barrow County, according to Barrow County Emergency Services. Her grandfather is still recovering in the hospital.

"My wife woke me up she heard a big boom," neighbor Jasmin Ferhatovic told FOX 5. "At first, we thought our pasture was on fire. I look out through the window and was like ‘Oh no, those are the neighbors.’"

Firefighters responded to the fire at a home in the 100 block of Matthew School Road around 2:30 a.m.

The home was heavily involved in fire when they arrived and family members told firefighters there was still one person in the home.

The firefighters made rapid entry through a bedroom window and found the person, 8-year-old Kairi Vongtongthip-Thao, was still in bed.

She was pulled out through the window where emergency services personnel began working on her and two others.

"Unfortunately, despite heroic efforts by the firefighters the child passed away as a result of injuries from the fire," commented Deputy Chief Brett Skinner. "I am very proud of the fact that they put their lives at risk in an attempt to give the child the best chance at surviving. My thoughts and prayers will be with the family that suffered such a great loss, and the firefighters who were on the scene."

Two other family members were injured, including Kairi's grandfather, Nhia Chue Thao, who was taken to the hospital.

"The mom obviously won't be able to go back to work for a period of time the family is devastated right now," Ferhatovic said. "Everything else in life is replaceable unfortunately not lives."

Neighbors have set up flowers and ribbons in Kairi's favorite color to honor her. A GoFundMe has also been set up to assist the family.

The cause of the fire has still not been released.