Florida grandson, grandma killed in Palm Bay house fire, officials say

Grandmother, grandson killed in Florida house fire

A fast-moving house fire killed a grandmother and her 10-year-old grandson early Monday in Palm Bay, authorities said.

PALM BAY, Fla. - A Florida grandmother, 75, and her 10-year-old grandson were killed early Monday morning in a devastating house fire in Palm Bay, according to Palm Bay Assistant Fire Chief John Ringleb. 

Firefighters with Palm Bay Fire Rescue responded to the home around 2:20 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 12, after receiving several 911 calls regarding a house fire and people potentially trapped inside. 

What we know:

Assistant Chief Ringleb told FOX 35 that when firefighters arrived at the home, nearly the entire house was engulfed in fire and smoke. A woman was outside the home when firefighters arrived and alerted them to two people inside the home. The woman, the boy's mother, is in stable condition. 

Boy, elderly woman killed in Palm Bay house fire: Full

A 10-year-old boy and an elderly woman were killed Monday in a house fire in Palm Bay, officials said. The fire was reportedly around 2 a.m. and firefighters found the house fully engulfed in flames when they arrived. Nearly all of the home was destroyed in the fire, officials said. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. 

Officials said a 10-year-old boy – identified as Noah Baus – and his grandmother – Sherill Vandemaat, 75 – died in the fire. 

The cause of the fire is under investigation. Preliminary details on a potential cause were not released.

"The entire home was pretty much burned. There's no spot that is burned than the other. I just did a walk around, and it seemed pretty involved on all sides," Acevedo said.

Memorial outside the home: ‘A sweet little boy’

On Monday, neighbors who lived near the home helped build a makeshift memorial outside the home.

What they're saying:

Maureen Bell, who lives nearby, told FOX 35's Stephanie Buffamonte that she heard people screaming when she came out of her home. 

"It was terrible when we heard that because he was just a sweet little boy," she said.

Michael Walsh, another neighbor, said the fire spread throughout the home quickly.

"From the initial point of ignition to when it was out of control, it was only like 15 minutes, so it went up quick," he said.