MANCHESTER, NH – Khloe Laka, after waking her mother and siblings to a fire on the third floor of their apartment building just after midnight on New Year’s Day, watched as her mother tossed her younger siblings over a fourth-floor balcony to people below.
Frightened, the 5-year-old little girl ran back inside the apartment that was filling up with heavy smoke and flames. Frantic, Clemence “Clemmy” Kilondo Laka, eight months pregnant and unable to reach her daughter, leapt to the ground below, screaming that her child was still in the apartment.
On arrival, firefighters quickly searched the fourth-floor for and found the kindergartner. She was rushed to a hospital in Boston. Khloe, a little girl who loved anything pink, especially unicorns, who loved dressing fancy from head to toe, and who dreamed of becoming a doctor, died Jan. 7 from injuries she suffered in that three-alarm blaze.
“Khloe is a hero,” said her godmother, Alison Mueller.
Khloe, her mother and siblings Kenny, 4, and Kylie, 14 months, were all asleep around 12:30 a.m. on New Year’s Day when alarms sounded in the Executive Manor apartment building at 567 Union St.
Khloe woke first and quickly woke up her mom and siblings, an act Mueller said “most certainly saved their lives. We know she is in heaven with Jesus and the angels were singing to welcome her home.”
In a prepared statement the family sent to to media, Khloe was remembered for the love she had for her whole family, including her soon-to-be-born brother:
“Our hearts are broken over the loss of our Khloe. She was full of life, and loved her family so much. She loved being a big sister to Kenny and Kylie and was so excited for the arrival of her new baby brother, who is due to be born next month. She loved the color pink, and loved dressing up. Khloe loved to read and was always excited to go to school and wanted to be a doctor when she grew up.”
She loved being fancy and dressing up from head to toe, Mueller told Manchester Ink Link.
Mueller spoke to Manchester Ink Link about the tragic event that night, relating what was told to her by family members.
Laka Ayilisungu, Khloe’s father, was attending a religious Congolese celebration of Dec. 31st and was not home when the fire broke out. He and his wife, who are U.S. citizens, are both originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Their children are U.S. citizens, all having been born here.
Mueller, speaking on behalf of the family, said it was a traumatic situation that morning as Clemmy gathered up her children to get them to safety. On the balcony, Khloe watched as her mother tossed Kylie, 14-months-old, and her brother, Kenny, 4, to people on the ground below who rushed to the scene after hearing screams for help.
“What the family told me is Khloe got scared at watching her mother throw the children over the balcony and ran back into the apartment,” Mueller said.
A frantic Clementine, unable to enter the apartment because of the heavy smoke and fire, then jumped and, on landing, screamed that her daughter was still in the apartment. Firefighters, arriving on scene, immediately searched for the child and set up ladders and used an aerial bucket to rescue other residents at windows and on balconies.
Once they rescued Khole, she was rushed to a Boston hospital but a week later on Thursday, she died from her injuries.
Clemence Laka and her two other children, were first taken to a local hospital but later Clemence was transferred to the same Boston hospital where Khloe was being treated. Mueller said when she visited them there on Wednesday, Clementine and the two younger children were all together at the hospital. They were released on Friday.
Clemence recovered from her injuries, which did not appear to affect her pregnancy although she is under the watchful eye of medical professionals, according to Mueller.
Khloe was a kindergarten student at The Saint Benedict Academy.
The school issued the following statement:
“The Saint Benedict Academy community is deeply saddened by the loss of our friend Khloe. Khloe will be remembered for her quiet, peaceful, and gentle spirit, and for her thoughtfulness and kindness to friends and classmates. She was a bright student who enjoyed reading books, spending time in dramatic, creative play and playing basketball on the playground with friends. Her smile brought joy to our community. She had a special bond with her brother Kenny, always looking out for him and sweetly helping and nurturing him. Khloe had a love of Christ and her faith and lived out the virtues in the school community in small simple ways that left a lasting impression on us all.
As a community, we extend our heartfelt condolences to her family and our gratitude to the many people who have joined us in prayer and service for the Laka family.”
Mueller said she came to know the family last year because they were interested in sending the children to Catholic schools. Mueller is Director of Marketing, Enrollment and Development for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Manchester’s 21 schools. She thought St. Benedict would be a great fit and helped the family with the enrollment.
In April, Mueller became godparent to all three children.
She said the family is temporarily staying at a hotel until they can connect with officials to find permanent housing.
Khloe is the second person to die from injuries sustained in the fire which displaced about 50 people.
Thomas J. Casey, 70, died of smoke inhalation that morning. Four other people also were hospitalized.
The Connor-Healy Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 537 Union St., is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.
Calling hours are set for Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, from 5 to 8 p.m. at St. Joseph Cathedral, 145 Lowell St., corner of Pine St. A Mass oc Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, at 10 a.m. in the Cathedral. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cementery in Bedford.
The funeral will be live streamed at stjosephcathedralnh.org