A 13-year-old autistic boy tragically lost his life on Tuesday after accidentally setting fire to his family's Christmas tree at their home in North Carolina. Brandon Gonzales, the oldest of his siblings, got hold of a lighter and started the devastating blaze that engulfed their house. Despite rescue efforts from a caregiver, Brandon was unable to escape the flames and succumbed to the fire.

The incident occurred at around 6:30 pm, with the caregiver and a five-year-old girl also present in the house at the time. Miraculously, they managed to evacuate the premises before the fire spread further. The caregiver sustained minor injuries during her attempts to save Brandon's life and is now recovering in the hospital.

The tragic event has left the Gonzales family devastated, as not only did they lose their home and all their possessions in the fire, but also their beloved son. Brenda Contreras Juarez, Brandon's mother, expressed her deep grief, stating, "It's been three days of torture... I miss him so much, and I am dying of sadness."

Noelia Juarez, Brenda's aunt, highlighted the family's loss, saying, "We lost all the material things... The most difficult thing is that we can't recover what hurts us the most." The family has set up a GoFundMe page to collect donations for funeral costs and to rebuild their lives. So far, the page has garnered $5,255 in contributions.

Neighbors who witnessed the heartbreaking incident expressed their sadness and offered their prayers and support to the grieving family. Latonya Park, a neighbor, shared, "It makes me very, very sad. I instantly started praying when I came out here... It's just a sad, sad situation." Another neighbor, Jazmin Verde, described the intensity of the fire, stating, "I heard fire trucks coming, and I wanted to go check outside to see what happened. The first thing I saw was the house on fire; it was really bad."

The loss of Brandon Gonzales has not only shattered his family but also serves as a reminder of the dangers posed by access to flammable objects for individuals with autism. It is crucial to ensure proper supervision and safety measures to prevent such tragic accidents from occurring.

As the Gonzales family mourns the loss of their beloved son during the holiday season, they remain grateful for the outpouring of support from their community. Funeral arrangements are currently being made as they try to cope with their immense loss and rebuild their lives after this devastating incident.