Carmel High school students are mourning the death of two of their schoolmates who died in a tragic house fire. YNN's Venise Toussaint has on how classmates are coping with the situation.

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CARMEL, N.Y. -- "It was a heart ripping shock,” said Louis Albano.

It was a morning announcement 16 year old Louis Albano never thought he’d hear. Shortly after walking into his Carmel High School classroom he's gets the devastating news, friend and schoolmate Meaghan Sullivan and nearly her entire family died in a house fire.

“I just started crying and I had to leave class,” Albano said.

Meaghan was a senior who friends say had a bright future ahead of her, her 15 year old sister Mairead a freshman. Police said the two girls, their father Lachmont Police Captain Thomas Sullivan and their mother Donna all died when fire engulfed their home on Wyndham Lane. The sole survivor Thomas Sullivan Junior, 20, who police said escaped the flames through a garage door.

"I feel bad for him to have the whole family gone that's really sad to here," Joseph Grippo said.

Grief counselors were on hand throughout the day at Carmel high school going from classroom to classroom, helping students to cope with this tragic loss.

“It’s a terrible tragedy, you have two young girls who were a big part of their school community they were well liked by their peers, just normal kids with goals and dreams it was just so shocking to everybody,” said Carmel High School Principal Kevin Carroll.

School officials said friends and students will plant a memorial tree on campus in loving memory of the two girls.

“Bless her soul and her family too.”