MERRITT ISLAND, Fla. – News 6 is learning about who died in a mobile home fire on Christmas Eve.
The home on Whaley Road in north Merritt Island is gutted now and multiple roommates are displaced.
A GoFundMe account identified Holly Marchica as the roommate who didn’t escape.
Marchica was described as a loving mother, grandmother, and friend.
[WATCH: Christmas Eve fire kills 1 in Merritt Island]
One of Marchica’s roommates, who made it out alive, told his story Friday to Merritt Island Community Correspondent James Sparvero.
“What happened was terrible,” Luis Contreras said. “I’ve never been through something like that, never.”Contreras said he survived by climbing out a window.“One more minute, and I wasn’t here because I was already getting all that soot and smoke,” he said. “I guess the guy upstairs wants me a little bit longer here.”
Contreras offered his condolences to Marchica’s family.
“I’m so, so sorry,” he said. “It’s unreal.”
Like firefighters at the fire station in the neighborhood, Contreras said he didn’t know what started the fire either.
If you’d like to help Contreras with expenses right now, you can donate to a GoFundMe that’s been set up for him too.
A young mother who lived in the home is also asking for donations on GoFundMe.