Toddler dead, woman dies a day later after Phoenix apartment fire

PHOENIX - An apartment fire in north Phoenix left a child dead and a woman fighting for her life in the hospital on Wednesday, July 12.

A couple of days later, authorities announced the woman, the child's mother, died from her injuries on July 13.

Fire crews were called to a complex near 2nd Avenue and Bell Road at 1 p.m. and found heavy smoke and fire coming from the first floor. It was spreading to the second and third floors, officials said.

Crews used CPR to save the woman, who was being treated at a local burn center for her extremely critical injuries. A man also "suffered lacerations" while trying to get into the burning apartment, and two firefighters suffered minor burns.

The victims are identified as Ashley Sutter, 37, and Maximus Hodges, 3.

"It's terrifying," said Lisa, a woman who lives in the area. "These things can happen so fast, and you look at the damage. It's just scary."

It's unclear what caused the fire.

Area where the fire broke out: