LEBANON, Pa. (WGAL) - Five people celebrating a birthday died in a Pennsylvania house fire, including a 4-year-old girl whose mother was among the first responders called to the scene.

When a call for a house fire in Lebanon County came in around 8:45 a.m. Sunday, First Aid & Safety Patrol were the first ambulance units called out. One of the EMTs, Azelyn Arenas, arrived to find her 4-year-old daughter, Veyda Pereyra, among the fire’s victims.

“This is horrible. This is our worst nightmare,” said Gregg Smith, executive director of First Aid & Safety Patrol. “I’ve never seen such a tragedy. When you take an employee, a first responder, that has to respond to their own child, words can’t describe the nightmare scenario this truly is.”

Veyda was being watched by 73-year-old Josefina Esteve

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