A tragic fire in Porterville, California, claimed the lives of a 34-year-old father and his four young children on Sunday night. The family had moved into a camper just a month earlier.
Firefighters were called to the residence near South Indiana Street around 11:18 p.m. local time. When first responders arrived, flames were already significant, but crews were able to remove all five individuals from the camper. Despite their rapid lifesaving efforts, all five victims were pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities confirmed that the father, Cody Schuler, 34, and his four children—two boys and two girls, ages 18 months to five years—were killed in the fire.
Friends and neighbors have been mourning the family, leaving flowers and stuffed animals at a small memorial near the site. “His kids were his entire world,” longtime friend Alex Olmos told local news. Schuler worked multiple jobs as a handyman and was known for his dedication to his children.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, though Porterville Fire Department Chief Bryan Cogburn said it “most likely started in the trailer.”
Neighbors remember Schuler for his generous spirit and infectious personality. “He would light up a room and keep it lit with his personality and the love that he had,” one neighbor said. “If everybody could see how he was with his kids, you guys would nominate him for father of the decade.”
Friends say the children’s mother has requested that donations be directed to a funeral home in Porterville. Olmos added, “You’re not forgotten. We’re still here, we still love you. You’ll always be remembered for the person that you were.”
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