Birmingham, Ala., Family Mourns the Loss of Edward Hicks III, Farintina Pleshette Hicks, and Laila Nicole Hicks After Early Morning House Fire in Green Acres
Edward Hicks III, 49, Farintina Pleshette Hicks, 48, and Laila Nicole Hicks, 18, died after an early morning house fire in the Green Acres area of west Birmingham on April 16, 2026.
A neighbor spotted the fire around 2:00 a.m. at the family’s one-story brick home and called for emergency help as firefighters rushed to the scene.
When crews arrived, they found heavy smoke and fast-moving flames throughout the home and worked to bring the family out of the house.
Emergency responders took all three family members to UAB Hospital in critical condition, where they later died despite lifesaving efforts.
Officials said the home did not have working smoke detectors, a detail that may have reduced the family’s chance to get out safely.
The loss has deeply touched the Birmingham community, especially Ramsay IB High School, where Laila Hicks was a senior and where grief counseling will be available for students and staff.
Authorities continue to investigate how the fire began.
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