Couple who died in Christmas Day fire identified

The man and woman killed in a mobile home fire on Christmas Day were identified Thursday by the Clark County coroner's office as 25-year-old Angelo Romero and 24-year-old Charito Whittier.

The couple died in their bed, burned beyond recognition, according to Clark County coroner Mike Murphy.

Neighbors said they awoke to the smell of smoke and popping sounds just after sunrise on Christmas morning, to find a home inside Miracle Mile Mobile Home Park, located off Boulder Highway, engulfed in flames. Despite attempts to break into the home with shovels and hammers, the neighbors were unable to break in before firefighters arrived six minutes after the 911 call.

Although an official cause of the fire has not been released, Fabian and Anna Calvido, neighbors, said there have been at least four fires in the park in recent years. Because the homes are old, they said families often use space heaters, which can cause fires.