After 10-Day Battle, Second Baby Dies from San Juan Capistrano Condo Fire

A second little boy died from injuries caused by the condominium fire in San Juan Capistrano that also claimed the life of his big brother and mother, coroners said today.

Iker Liboro, 2, was pronounced dead at 3:56 p.m. Friday at Children’s Hospital at Mission in Mission Viejo, according to the Coroner’s Office.

Smoke from the Jan. 20 fire killed his bother, Jaiden Liborio. Their mother, Marciela Sanchez, 20, died the next day from burns and smoke injuries.

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The blaze was in a second-floor condo at 26577 La Zanja Street at around 9:15 a.m. that morning.

Firefighters said that the cause of the fire was “most likely a juvenile playing with a lighter in the living room.” It caused $180,000 damage to the structure and $40,000 damage to the contents.

About 80 residents were displaced by the fire, Orange County Fire spokesman Steve Concialdi said. Eight condos were damaged, including two by fire, and eight adults and nine children were living in one of the units, Concialdi said.

Neighbors helped rescue a mother in her mid-20s and her 3-year-old and 2- year-old daughters, Concialdi said. The mother threw her children down to bystanders and then jumped onto a small mattress that the crowd had produced.

Another woman missed the mattress and suffered a serious leg injury, Concialdi said. She had also suffered burns and was eventually taken to UC Irvine in Orange in serious condition, Concialdi said.

A five-year-old boy was also tossed to safety and another 7-year-old boy managed to get out of the burning building by himself, according to Concialdi. They were taken to Mission Hospital in Laguna Beach to be treated for “moderate” smoke inhalation-related injuries.

“There were smoke alarms, but unfortunately they did not have batteries in them,” Concialdi said.

A family dog was found hiding inside the unit by firefighters, and the animal was given oxygen.

• City News Service