In Philadelphia, three sisters and all but one of their kids were identified as victims in a recent fire at a row home, according to their family members, Pamela and Frank McDonald. 

The victims were Rosalee McDonald, Virginia Thomas, Quinsha White and six of McDonald’s children and three of Thomas’ children, according to CNN. Miraculously, Thomas’ five-year-old son survived the deadly house fire. 

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A news release from the City of Philadelphia website had originally said that four adults and eight children lost their lives in the fire. 

Authorities are trying to find out if a Christmas tree that was lit inside the home could have touched off the blaze. 

“They were both good people, good mothers and were very family-oriented,” Frank McDonald said to CNN. “Rosalee was one of the best people you could ever meet. She was very supportive — they both were. They came down to help me with my business when I opened it.” 

The devastated family members said the sisters were very tight knit and had lived together in the apartment since their teenage years. The family created a GoFundMe page to help out with the funeral expenses of their departed family members. 

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Officials from the Philadelphia Housing Authority, an agency with the mission to “acquire, lease and operate affordable housing for city residents with limited incomes,” said there were 20 people living in the subdivided units in the row home, although fire officials stated there were 26. 

“I don’t know how they were able to ascertain that,” Kelvin A. Jeremiah, PHA president and CEO, said to CNN. “The authorized number of residents would be the folks who are indicated on our leases, and in both of those units the combined total should be 20 — six and 14.”