Donations Being Accepted for Family Who Lost Teen in Camp Pendleton Fire

A 13-year-old girl was killed Thursday morning as a result of a house fire aboard Camp Pendleton, base spokesperson Sgt. John Jackson told Patch.

The single-family home caught fire for unknown reasons at about 6:30 a.m. in the O'Neill Heights housing area of the base, Jackson said. No other structures were damaged as a result.

The O'Neill Heights neighborhood is located north of Lake O'Neill and just northeast of Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton.

The home was occupied by a Marine master sergeant with 1st Radio Battalion, the unit's spokesperson, 1st Lt. Amanda Gragg, told Patch.

Gragg would not release the name or military occupational specialty of the Marine.

The family's two dogs were also killed in the blaze that took the life of their daughter, Gragg told Patch.

Donations are being coordinated on Pendleton Underground, a popular forum site used predominantly by Camp Pendleton families.

According to a user of the site, "At 8 p.m. (Thursday), many of their neighbors in O'Neill heights have tied bows to the trees and are holding a prayer vigil at the site of where the home once stood. Feel free to stop by and show your support, sign the guest book and sign the contact list for future notifications regarding this family."

Gragg confirmed that the vigil did, in fact, take place.

Jackson told Patch that a Camp Pendleton firefighter was taken to a hospital for treatment of minor burns and smoke inhalation.

It was not immediately clear if anyone else was in the house when the blaze broke out, or whether the teen died at the scene or at a hospital.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and a damage estimate was not released.

This is the second reported residential fire aboard Camp Pendleton. In May, a fire broke out in the South Mesa housing community on base.

Camp Pendleton Patch has put in a request with base public affairs for the number and causes of each of the residential fires aboard the installation since the beginning of the year.

Below is a description from 1st Radio Battalion family readiness officer Jessica Dentel of where monetary and physical donations can be sent:

Monetary donations:

The folks over at the ASYMCA have been at this family's side assisting them every step of the way since they first learned of the incident. They continue to help Marines, sailors and families in need and have shown us there are no limits to their unfailing love. If you would like to donate
money for the family to purchase new furniture items, please send check, money order or cashier's check and made out to the Armed Services YMCA - Camp Pendleton.  Please write "Fire Support" in the memo line.

760-385-4921
Monies may be mailed to:
ASYMCA Camp Pendleton
Box 555028, Building 16144
Camp Pendleton CA 92055-5028

School Supplies:

Thank you to 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion (4th LAR), your offer to help is greatly appreciated and incredibly thoughtful! If you are a part of this unit and would like to help, we ask that you help the two sons prepare to go back to school. One is in high school and the other is in elementary school. Some of the items these young gentlemen need are listed on the Perfect Potluck.com website. Please sign up next to the school item you would like to donate and drop these items off at 1st Radio Battalion or contact JJ Dentel to coordinate a time and place to have them be picked up. We will have personnel on standby to deliver items to the family throughout the day.

Here is a link:
http://www.PerfectPotluck.com/meals.php?t=MUQW5972

Another way you can access the meal schedule is Visit:
http://www.PerfectPotluck.com
Coordinator Last Name: Dentel
Password: 16313

Meals:

Spouses and Friends of 1st Radio Battalion, thank you for your concerns and selfless requests to be of service! If you would like to help this family please help by making and/or delivering meals. If you would like to give the gift of food, please visit PerfectPotluck.com and sign up next to the
food item you would like to donate. Please drop these items off at 1st Radio Battalion or contact JJ Dentel to coordinate for them to be picked up. We will have personnel on standby to deliver meals and other perishable
items to the family throughout the day.

Here is a link:
http://www.PerfectPotluck.com/meals.php?t=MUQW5972
Another way you can access the meal schedule is Visit:
http://www.PerfectPotluck.com
Coordinator Last Name: Dentel
Password: 16313

Household items:

1st Marines Special Operations Intel Company (MSOIC) and 1st Marines Special Operations Battalion (MSOB) you continue to show your support to our Battalion and have done us a great honor in asking how you can help once
again. If you are a part of one of these units and would like to help, we ask that you help by donating household items.  Some of the items the family may need are listed on the Perfect Potluck.com website. Please sign up next
to the household item you would like to donate and either drop the item(s) off at 1st Radio Battalion or contact JJ Dentel to coordinate for them to be picked up. We will have personnel on standby to deliver items to the family
throughout the day.

Here is a link:
http://www.PerfectPotluck.com/meals.php?t=MUQW5972
Another way you can access the meal schedule is Visit:
http://www.PerfectPotluck.com
Coordinator Last Name: Dentel
Password: 16313

Special Thanks:

Semper Fi Fund:

I have been contacted by so many representatives, friends and employees of the Semper Fi Fund and I am humbled by all the resources and help they have offered and given this family. The men and women of 1st Radio Battalion and of the United States Marine corps are indebted to the kindness and support you give our Marines and Sailors in need. We will be forever grateful for the friendships we have in you.

Navy Marine Corps Relief Society:

You continue to help our families in their time of need.  Thank you for all that you do.

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City News Service contributed to this report.