LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – The community is rallying around a family after four of their loved ones were killed in a Southwest Valley house fire last Thursday.
The Clark County Coroner confirmed 48-year-old Ibrahim Adem, 43-year-old Abdul Adem, 7-year-old Anaya Adem and 6-year-old Aaliyah Adem all lost their lives in the fire.
A woman and her child were also injured after jumping from their third-floor window to escape the flames.
Longtime family friend, Girma Zaid, got permission from the family to speak on their behalf.
He says he’s known the family for over a decade, but his connection to them was through Abdul, the father of Anaya and Aaliyah — also the husband of the woman who jumped from the third floor, Senait.
Zaid says Abdul sat in his office just over a week ago. Zaid is a consultant and leader in the Eritrean and Ethopian community, among other titles.
“Abdul was really interested in working with me, bless his soul,” Zaid said. “He would’ve picked up my legacy at this stage in my life. We talked about this,”
He says Abdul was a community activist, a supporter of his faith and culture, and a passionate family man.
“Abdul to me was the gregarious, bodacious, entrepreneur, businessman, father, coach,” Zaid shared. “He would take any, any task, hold the bull by the horn, and face whatever challenges.”
He left behind a family that is now without a husband, a father, and a brother. Zaid says they’re still shell-shocked, including his wife Senait.
“In her own words, ‘it must be the angels that let me fly from the third floor and land on the air conditioning panel, get up and knock on three doors in our neighborhood to try to save our family.’ That was, outside of the word ‘miracle’ I don’t know what it is,” he explained.
He says Senait and their five-year-old child are recovering physically but are emotionally struggling.
As they grieve, the family asks the community for support and to keep their family members’ legacies alive by speaking about the positive impact they left behind.
“Your legacy is going to continue. Thank you, my friend, rest in peace,” Zaid said.
The memorial service for all four family members is scheduled for next week.
The Firefighters of Southern Nevada Burn Foundation is also collecting donations for the family.
You can donate here through Nov. 24, and 100% of donations will go to the family impacted by the fire.
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