WHITEHALL, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Friends, family and the community gathered in front of the Whitehall Elementary School at the circle, tonight, for a special vigil to honor fourth grader, Airyonna Jabot.
Attendees held balloons and blowing bubbles for little Airyonna, the 10-year-old girl who tragically lost her life in a house fire back on the May 7.
Her family says she will be remembered for her lover spirit, and as the little girl who stuck up for those being picked on or bullied at school.
When it came to food, she was all about spaghetti and meatballs, tacos and chicken tenders from Sunoco.
Aryionna loved drawing and had an affection for Squishmallows and silly snapchat filters. Her family said she was excited about the new kittens her cat just had. They also said she is quite the little shopper as she favored the shopping app, TEMU.
Calling hours for family and friends are tomorrow from 4 pm to 6 pm at Carleton Funeral home in Hudson Falls with funeral services on Thursday followed by and afternoon graveside service.
According to the American Red Cross, the fire at 5 Maple Avenue displaced a total of 10 people. Officials tell NEWS10 there are no new updates, and the fire remains under investigation.
An improperly discarded cigarette was responsible for a house fire in Daytona Beach on Saturday, according to fire officials.
Daytona Beach firefighters executed a quick attack on the fire and extinguished it, containing it to the area where it started, the Daytona Beach Fire Department said.
No injuries were reported.
“The cause was determined to be from an improperly discarded cigarette,” a fire department Facebook post said.
Daytona Beach fire officials said smoking caused 7,800 fires in 2021. Smoking-related house fires killed 275 people and injured 750 others. Losses were $361,500,000, officials said.
Cigarette users should ensure cigarettes are completely out when getting rid of them, stay alert, never smoke in bed, and dispose of cigarettes in ashtrays or sand buckets, fire officials said.
Two parents in Northern Virginia parents are “praying for a miracle,” after doctors told them two of their children were experiencing symptoms of brain death.
Firefighters in front of burned house in Clifton, Virginia. (Courtesy Fairfax County Fire and Rescue)
Firefighters in front of burned house in Clifton, Virginia. (Courtesy Fairfax County Fire and Rescue)
A Clifton, Virginia, father said doctors told him his two youngest sons were experiencing symptoms of brain death after being rescued from fire at the family’s home on Wednesday. Now, parents Jamey and Reina Brice are “praying for a miracle.”
A 10-year-old boy is in critical condition Monday after a home in Bowie, Maryland, caught fire overnight, Prince George’s County Fire officials said.
A 10-year-old boy is in critical condition Monday after a home in Bowie, Maryland, caught fire overnight, Prince George’s County Fire officials said.
Firefighters were called to the scene of a single-family house fire in the 16200 block of Penn Manor Lane in Bowie just after 1 a.m. A woman was inside the building with her two children and all three were taken to the hospital, according to the Prince George’s County Fire and EMS Department.
The child who was critically injured is a 10-year-old boy, fire department spokesman Alan Doubleday told WTOP.
The second child is unharmed, and the woman is being evaluated, officials said. There was no further information about their identities available.
It’s believed the fire started in an second-floor bedroom and spread into the attic and down to the first floor, Doubleday said. No one was inside the bedroom when the fire began.
The flames were extinguished overnight shortly after fire officials arrived at the house.
Here’s a map of where fire officials said the home is located:
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(FOX40.COM) — A Modesto firefighter was injured while battling a fire inside a house that was used for a marijuana grow operation.
On Saturday morning, Modesto Fire Department said it responded to a house fire near Prescott Road and Bangs Avenue. Upon arrival, firefighters found a two-story 3,400 square feet house with fire throughout the attic and roof.
Crews said they initially operated in the “offensive mode, but had to pull out of the building when the roof collapsed,” but were eventually able to fully extinguish the fire.
While working to put out the fire, firefighters said they discovered that the house was being used as a marijuana grow location and that the cause fire is under investigation. One firefighter suffered a minor injury and was treated after the incident.
A unique family that includes a husband and two wives and 17 children among them lost almost everything in a March 8 fire at their Dale City, Virginia, home.
Husband and father Mykal Coles said Tuesday the family is making do with two suites at an extended-stay hotel in Woodbridge – and trying to figure out how to rebuild their lives.
Firefighters were called to the family’s home in the 6100 block of Oust Lane the afternoon of March 8, where they found all occupants out of the house and a fire in a second-floor bedroom.
The blaze was started by a candle in a bedroom igniting bedding, fire investigators said. Coles said one of his wives was cleaning and the three-wick Bath and Body Works candle sparked a flame out of the top that hit the rug and mattress.
There are dozens of news reports online about similar fires caused by the same type of candle, but Bath and Body Works has said the candles are tested and safe if properly used.
The four-bedroom, 2.5-bath home, which the family had been renting for over two years, sustained moderate fire damage, but barely anything was salvageable. The family had also created a fifth bedroom in the 2,087-square-foot house.
“This is my family and I work hard to take care of them,” said Coles, who works as a special police captain for a firm providing security to an embassy in Washington and drives for Lyft part time. “What we didn’t lose to fire, we lost to smoke damage, and what we didn’t lose to smoke damage, we lost to water damage.”
The family did not have renter’s insurance. Coles said he inadvertently let it lapse after switching auto insurance companies.
The Coles family of Dale City lost their home and most of their belongings in a fire on March 8, 2024.
Unique family situation
Coles is legally married to his first wife, Alicia, and is in a common-law marriage with his second wife, Jasmine. He’s been married to Alicia for 20 years and committed with Jasmine for 14, he said.
The family has 17 children ranging in age 9 months to 21 years – seven boys and 10 girls. The younger children attend Prince William County Public Schools. The parents all work, but the fire dealt a financial blow.
“It’s been a really humbling experience for me,” Coles said.
A family friend has established a GoFundMe campaign to help the Coleses get back on their feet. The American Red Cross has helped with some immediate needs, but the family needs a new rental home, new furniture, new clothes – basically everything.
Coles said he knows his family situation raises some eyebrows, leading people to often say things that aren’t true.
“I get a lot of flack, like we must be on assistance,” he said. “We’re not on assistance; we all work, we have decent salaries. I’m not ashamed of my family. We’re starting over here.”
(FOX40.COM) — Between Saturday night and Sunday morning, multiple fire agencies were called upon to tend to structure fires in Placer, Stanislaus, and San Joaquin counties.
According to social media, the Roseville Fire Department, Modesto Fire Department, and Stockton Fire were all asked to put out residential fires between Saturday and Sunday morning.
The Stockton fire agency was called to a single-story, single-family home that was on fire early Saturday morning, the agency said on X. Video shows fire crews arriving at the fire and working quickly to extinguish the flames, but not before struggling to gain entry due to the fire’s intensity.
Stockton Fire said it responded to a house fire early Saturday morning. The source of the fire was not made clear. (Image Credit: Stockton Fire)
“Firefighters stretched an attack line and attempted forcible entry, but were driven off the porch by heavy fire,” Stockton Fire said. No injuries were reported in this incident.
Next, the Modesto Fire Department (MFD) said it responded to Boise Avenue in south Modesto early Sunday morning for a reported house on fire.
The Modesto Fire Department responded to a house fire in south Modesto on Sunday morning. (Image Credit: Modesto Fire Department)
“Modesto Engine 10 arrived and found a house with fire in the attic and garage. All residents were safely out of the home before firefighters arrived.,” Modesto Fire said on Facebook. “The Modesto Fire Department and Modesto City Fire Fighters Local 1289 provided the residents with a $250 S.A.V.E. card to assist with their immediate needs.”
Finally, the Roseville Fire Department was called to a home fire in the Sierra Vista neighborhood around 11:30 a.m. on Sunday. According to the agency, no one was inside the one-story home at the time of the fire, but five dogs and a snake required rescuing.
Roseville fire crews work to put out a house fire in the Sierra Vista neighborhood on Sunday morning. (Image Credit: Roseville Fire Department)
“Firefighters rendered aid to the dogs, two of which were transported to the vet by animal control officers. Sadly, only one of the dogs survived,” the agency added.
A house fire in Prince William County, Virginia, on Friday led to a family of 20 being displaced.
A devastating house fire that took place on Friday in Prince William County, Virginia, led to a family of 20 being displaced. (Courtesy GoFundMe)
A devastating house fire that took place on Friday in Prince William County, Virginia, led to a family of 20 being displaced. (Courtesy GoFundMe)
A house fire in Prince William County, Virginia, on Friday led to a family of 20 being displaced.
Officials told WTOP that the fire started in one of the bedrooms and it spread throughout the house, leading to extensive smoke and water damage.
Town of Quantico Councilman Sammoto Yomosa Dabney told WTOP the family — consisting of Mykal Coles, his two wives Alicia and Jasmine, and 17 of their children — lost all of their belongings as a result of the fire.
According to officials, the children were at school and Jasmine was home alone when the fire happened. She was able to escape uninjured.
With help from the American Red Cross, the family is temporarily staying at a hotel while they figure out their next steps, officials said.
“We are grateful that everyone is safe, but the loss of our home and belongings is devastating,” Mykal Coles said. “We are overwhelmed by the support and generosity of those who have already donated to help us during this challenging time.”
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EAST LANSDOWNE, Pennsylvania (WPVI) — Six people from the same family are presumed dead after a shooting and fire at a home in East Lansdowne, Delaware County on Wednesday, a surviving family member tells Action News.
That number includes the apparent gunman.
A fire that erupted in the home shortly after the gunfire, which also left two police officers injured, left the building in ruins.
Three bodies, including that of a child, and a gun, had been recovered from the charred rubble by Thursday afternoon.
“We’re still at the stage of trying to get into the house bit by bit and recover bodies and evidence,” said Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer.
It all began with a 911 call for a report of a shooting at 58 Lewis Ave. The alleged shooter was identified by his mother as 43-year-old Canh Le.
Le’s mother, Chin Le, told Action News that she heard Canh Le having an argument with his 13-year-old niece in a upstairs bedroom.
Chin Le said she heard Canh Le say he was going to get a gun.
That’s when Chin Le said her husband took her out of the home and the shots were fired. Chin Le said it was her husband who called 911.
Chin Le said she has no idea why Canh Le had a gun. She went on to say her son has no known history of mental illness.
Canh Le is dead, Chin Le told Action News.
She went on to say her other son, Xuong Le, and his wife, Britni Le, were also presumed dead, along with their three children, NaKayla, 13, NaTayla, 17, and Xavier, 10.
McLaughlin Family via ABC News
Exactly how many victims were shot is unclear and cause of death will be determined by an autopsy. Crews spent the day trying to recover the bodies.
Chin Le said the family did not have a history of arguments. Chin Le she and her family came to the United States in 1981 and lived in this area for 40 years.
It’s believed the children went to schools in the William Penn School District. District officials released a statement on Thursday saying it is still gathering information and providing counseling.
Responding officers immediately met with gunfire
Police were immediately met by gunfire when they arrived at the scene Wednesday afternoon.
Sources told Action News on Thursday that the shooter was believed to be firing from the third floor of the house. Two officers were hit and the suspect retreated back into the home.
Officer David Schiazza, 54, who is with the Lansdowne Police Department, was shot once in the leg. The 22-year veteran of the department was released from Penn Presbyterian Hospital at 3 p.m. Thursday.
Police officer released from hospital after being shot in East Lansdowne
Officer John Meehan, 44, who is with the East Lansdowne Police Department, was shot once in the left arm and his injury required surgery. Meehan is still being treated at Penn Presbyterian Hospital.
CHOPPER VIDEO: Officers shot while responding to shooting involving child
2 officers shot in East Lansdowne, Delaware County
Upper Darby police quickly grabbed ballistic shields and dragged the injured officers to safety.
“I heard a lot of gunshots as I just came from the store and then I smelled the smoke about 10 minutes later. And I just seen cops come everywhere, running in their vests and everything,” said one resident. “I heard [them] yelling ‘active shooter, get in the house, barricade, don’t come out,’” a neighbor said.
Neighbor Derrick Richardson recorded cell phone video of the chaotic scene as officers helped an injured officer and called for a medic while they were under fire.
Neighbor Derrick Richardson recorded cell phone video of the chaotic scene as officers helped an injured officer while they were under fire.
“It was very scary, it was very scary. My whole house was surrounded by police officers. Everybody had their guns drawn. Long rifles and the gunshots,” he said.
Chopper video also showed one officer being carried away from the scene and being put in an ambulance.
Chopper video: Officers dragged to safety after being shot in Delaware County
Upper Darby Superintendent Timothy Bernhardt described a volatile and dangerous scene when officers from his department responded to the home and were able to rescue the two wounded officers.
“All officers that were on scene initially were taking on fire, and then when they removed themselves from it, there was no more gunfire at that point,” Bernhardt said.
DA Jack Stollsteimer provides update on shooting the injured 2 officers in East Lansdowne
DA Jack Stollsteimer, law enforcement officials provide update on 2 officers shot in East Lansdowne
“It was because of the Upper Darby Police Department, who also responded to that call, that these officers are alive today. They were dragged out of danger by Upper Darby police officers,” said Stollsteimer. “Everybody in law enforcement and Delaware County works together.”
“I just can’t thank these officers and this team enough for the heroism displayed every single day by our police officers throughout the county, or particularly today. I can’t thank Upper Darby police officers enough for what they did to drag these two gentlemen away from the gunfire – or we might be having a whole different conversation tonight about what happened,” Stollsteimer added.
Home goes up in flames
Stollsteimer said a person inside the home started a fire about 15 minutes after officers arrived.
Intense flames were initially seen rising from the roof and top floor of the three-story home before spreading to the lower levels, largely gutting the structure.
The blaze raged on for hours as crews worked to get it under control. Fire crews were initially kept away from the scene due to the gunfire.
The massive plume of smoke could be seen across the community. It was so intense it was picked up on StormTracker 6 radar.
Firefighters remained on the scene Thursday as wisps of smoke were visible from the charred remains of the house. Heavy machinery moved into the neighborhood as investigators were examining the home.
An excavator was being used to tear down the walls left standing after the fire gutted the building, scooping debris to be sifted by investigators. A medical examiner’s office vehicle was also there.
Neighbors recall chaos
The incident unfolded as school was letting out and families were walking back home.
The entire block was evacuated, according to the district attorney. A man who lives nearby described the frightening scene.
“There was rapid gunfire. I was just sitting on the couch, then I heard, ‘Pop! Pop! Pop!’ (I) peeked out to see, then literally 10 seconds later cops were coming out from everywhere in every direction yelling, ‘Active shooter! Close your door,’” he said.
‘Get in the house’: Resident recalls emergency response after officers shot
‘Get in the house’: Resident recalls emergency response after officers shot
Other residents described the chaos as they ran into their homes.
“All the cops was coming with guns, rifles out and I said, ‘Close the door, leave the groceries’. My hood was up and my car was open,” recalled Veronica Carrington.
“My kids were scared and then I said, ‘Get away from the windows, get down, until we know it’s all safe and everything.’ And my little 4-year-old goes, ‘Mommy I’m so scared.’ And I’m like, ‘It’s OK babe,’” added Stevie Ann of East Lansdowne.
A SWAT vehicle was also seen breaking down a wall of the home.
SWAT vehicle rams burning Delaware County home after officers shot
“I saw the SWAT team, they were parked up on my lawn, they packed into the back of the SWAT vehicle. I think they were attempting to use the SWAT vehicle as shield, but the fire just got to be out of control,” Richardson said.
“Everybody in Delaware County should be praying for these two officers who ran towards fire when everybody else can run away from it,” Stollsteimer said.
“I feel sorry for the people involved [and] the officers that got shot. I feel like if it is true with this 11-year-old — I hope it’s not true because I couldn’t imagine losing one of mine — It’s just a sad situation,” said Stevieann, who is also a neighbor.
“Seeing an incident like this happen is like, nobody would’ve ever seen this type of thing coming. It’s shocking, it’s still shocking. Loss for words, so prayers and condolences,” added fellow nieghbor Tayvon.
District Attorney, law enforcement officials provide update on house fire, officer-involved shooting in East Lansdowne, Pa.
At least six people are missing after a massive fire erupted at a Pennsylvania home amid a shooting that injured two police officers, according to local authorities.
Around 3:50 p.m. Wednesday, police responded to a report of an 11-year-old girl being shot at a home on Lewis Avenue in East Lansdowne, Pennsylvania. When officers arrived at the scene, a shooter inside the home opened fire, Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer said in an evening press conference.
The two officers were each shot once and are both in stable condition, the district attorney said. However, police and firefighters have been unable to enter the residence—initially due to active shooter protocol, then because of the blaze—and fear multiple victims may have been inside when the home went up in flames, Stollsteimer said during the news conference shared online by local station WCAU.
“We are afraid there might be more than one person in that house,” Stollsteimer said. “We know the victim’s family had a lot of people living in that house, including children. We are aware that there are at least six to eight people who are unaccounted for from that family. It is our terrible fear that they may (have been) inside that house when it was burned.”
“We are hopeful that that is not true,” the district attorney continued. “But we will not know until tomorrow morning.”
Stollsteimer said that he could not confirm the identities of those involved but said the individuals unaccounted for included children.
At least six people are unaccounted for after a fire erupted at a Pennsylvania home amid a shooting that inured two police officers, according to local authorities. At least six people are unaccounted for after a fire erupted at a Pennsylvania home amid a shooting that inured two police officers, according to local authorities. Getty
Newsweek reached out via email on Wednesday night to Stollsteimer and the East Lansdowne Police Department for comment and an update on the case.
“We’re not going to make entry into that house until we know that the fire is under control and that it’s safe for those officers to go in there,” Stollsteimer said during an earlier news conference. “We don’t want another single officer hurt tonight in Delaware County.”
During the chaos, officers from three separate agencies responded to the scene and were “immediately met by gunfire,” Stollsteimer said, adding that the two officers who were shot were “dragged out of danger” by other officers, he said.
At some point, the house that the shooter was in caught fire, according to the district attorney, who added that firefighters were unable to battle the blaze due to the bullet assault.
“Officers were taking gunfire,” Stollsteimer said. “Police officers and the fire department who were out there, there was still shots coming out at the beginning of this fire scene.”
Local media reported that the entire block near the home was evacuated as first responders, including a SWAT team and additional police and firefighters, arrived at the scene.
It was unclear what time the gunfire stopped but the blaze was under control, yet still smoldering on Wednesday night, according to Stollsteimer.
Authorities were unsure if the shooter was still inside the house or if the initial report of an 11-year-old girl being shot was accurate, the district attorney said.
“We don’t know who was in the house, we don’t know who the shooter was, we don’t know how many people are in there, we don’t know their status, we don’t know if they’re alive,” Stollsteimer said.
There won’t be more information until crews enter the home on Thursday morning, he added.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
The outlet reports that the fire was sparked early Saturday morning. Around 7:30 a.m., the Houston Fire Department took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to notify the public about the incident.
At the time, the department informed the public that the fire resulted in two casualties.
“@HoustonFire is on scene at 218 Heaney performing extinguishment efforts after receiving reports of a house on fire. Unfortunately, two civilian fatalities were reported. No FF injuries reported. Please avoid the area due to heavy emergency traffic. @FireChiefofHFD,” the tweet reads.
@HoustonFire is on scene at 218 Heaney performing extinguishment efforts after receiving reports of a house on fire. Unfortunately, two civilian fatalities were reported. No FF injuries reported. Please avoid the area due to heavy emergency traffic. @FireChiefofHFD
Later that morning, Houston Mayor John Whitmire took to Facebook to share more information about the casualties. Whitmire revealed that a mother had rescued two of her children from the fire. However, she passed away while trying to save her infant son.
“ Please extend a prayer today for a local family. The mother rescued two of her children from a house fire but died while trying to save her baby boy. We are working to make sure this family has the support they need in their time of grief. I thank our first responders for their work assisting with the investigation,” the Mayor wrote.
Furthermore, Houston Fire Chief Samuel Peña confirmed the mayor’s report with additional sentiments and photos shared via X.
“House fire resulted in tragic death of young mother & infant son as she reentered the home in attempt to rescue her child from the flames Our prayers & condolences to the family…@HoustonFire… crew reported heavy fire conditions on arrival. Cause&Origin investigation is ongoing,” he wrote.
House fire resulted in tragic death of young mother & infant son as she reentered the home in attempt to rescue her child from the flames
According to ABC 13 Houston, the mother who passed away in the fire has been identified as 31-year-old Giovanna Cabrera. Additionally, her infant son has been identified as 1-year-old Gabriel.
The outlet adds that the siblings saved from the fire are nine and six years old.
“She tried her best to get out,” Cabrera’s sister reportedly told the outlet. “My sister was a hero because she took them out, and nothing happened to them.”
KHOU reports that a neighbor, Savannah Hernandez, heard the eldest siblings crying for help after escaping the fire.
“I heard banging on the door and kids crying for help,” she reportedly explained. “They are little kids, and you just never know what could happen. They were barefooted.”
Chief Samuel Peña has since informed the public of his recommendation when experiencing a house fire.
“This is tragic,” he reportedly said. “And again, the recommendation once you’re outside, stay outside. How do you tell that to a mother whose child is inside the home?”
What Will Happen To The Family Moving Forward?
According to KHOU, authorities believe the fire was sparked “somewhere in a wall.” Then, it quickly engulfed the home.
Since the incident, a GoFundMe campaign has been created in memory of Giovanna and Gabriel. As of Monday, February 5, the campaign has raised over $23,000 out of a $35,000 goal.
The funds will reportedly be used to assist Cabrera’s surviving children and parents.
According to PEOPLE, the siblings are now living with their father.
Five people, including two children, were killed in a mobile home fire in Ohio on Thanksgiving morning, authorities said.
The Ohio Department of Commerce said volunteer firefighters in Athens County were called to a Rainbow Lake Road address south of Athens at about 7:30 a.m. Thursday and found two mobile homes ablaze and an outbuilding also damaged.
Richland Area volunteer firefighters reported that one of the mobile homes was engulfed in flames with a collapsed roof, and they later found five occupants inside deceased.
Brandon Klein of the commerce department said a single occupant made it out of the fire and was taken to a local hospital by emergency responders. The cause of the fire wasn’t immediately known, he said.
The names of the victims haven’t been released. The state fire marshal’s office, which is a division of the commerce department, is investigating along with the county sheriff’s office and the county coroner.
Authorities told WLWT-TV and WOWK-TV that two children were among the five people killed.
“Any kind of fatality, it’s hard. When there’s five and there’s children involved, it adds to it,” Chief Dale Sinclair of the Richland Area Volunteer Fire Department said.
Sinclair said some of the firefighters knew the people who lived at the address, and a debriefing was planned to allow a team “to meet with everyone and try to get as much mental health help as we can.”
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“Grey’s Anatomy” star Caterina Scorsone revealed in a social media post Monday that she saved her three children from a house fire “a couple of months ago,” escaping her burning Southern California residence in about two minutes.
“While getting my kids ready for bed and finishing bath time, smoke began to seep up through the grout around the tub,” Scorsone wrote on Instagram, alongside a photo of the fire damage in her home. “When I looked down the hallway a river of thick black smoke had already formed and was filling the house.”
Scorsone did not provide details on the exact date and location of the fire, or whether authorities had established a cause.
Best known for playing Dr. Amelia Shepherd on the medical series, Scorsone emphasized how quickly the blaze spread, and disclosed that four pets died in the fire.
“I had about two minutes to get my three kids out of the house, and we escaped with less than shoes on our feet,” Scorsone wrote. “But we got out. And for that I am eternally grateful. Heartbreakingly, we lost all four of our pets. We are still sitting with that loss, but we are lucky we got to love them at all.”
Scorsone shared a series of photos of her three cats and dog “to say goodbye to the animals that loved us so well.”
She also thanked her “community” of family and friends who supported her family after the tragedy.
“This is a love letter to the incredible people that showed up and the incredible ways that they did,” she said, praising the firefighters, school parents and her “Grey’s Anatomy” team for their help getting her family back on their feet.
“What we learned is that the only thing that matters are the people (and beings) that you love,” Scorsone said. “The only thing that matters is community. We would not be here without it and we are so grateful.”
A 4-year-old boy pulled from the second floor of a burning apartment building Sunday afternoon died later at Children’s Wisconsin. His family identified him Monday as Ja-Rome Clark. His mom told WISN 12 News Hannah Hilyard he had snuck upstairs while the rest of his family was downstairs watching cartoons. “Next thing I knew, I just heard a loud boom and a sizzling sound. I made it upstairs. I opened the door. There was so much smoke I couldn’t get my son out,” his mom Stacy Watson said. “This is the worst hurt I ever had in my life. I wouldn’t wish this on nobody.”Firefighters found the child, paramedics began performing life-saving measures and then rushed the boy to Children’s Wisconsin. The fire department was called to the scene near North 84th Street and Mill Road at about 3 p.m. WISN 12 News’ Kendall Keys spoke with a woman at the scene who said she heard screaming and ran into the smoke-filled building to try to save the child.”When I get out of the car, all you hear is ‘Please, no! Help me! Not my baby, not my baby,’” neighbor Lashanda Blackmer said. She said she attempted to find the boy in the smoke-filled building.”I was inside of her house. We were literally up the stairs trying to get to the little boy,” Blackmer said. When the smoke became too much for her to continue searching, Blackmer said she stuck by the mother’s side until Milwaukee firefighters pulled the boy from the flames.”Calm down, I’m going to be here for you, I’m not going to leave your side. Your son is going to be okay. But then when they brought him out and I seen him, I still kept faith,” Blackmer said.Police said the child died from his injuries hours later. “Don’t nobody want to see or hear that their kid is dead, like no. And that really messed me up,” Blackmer said. “Hysterical. I could have fainted. I’m just lucky that it wasn’t my baby.”Watson said investigators are telling her the cause was likely electrical. Milwaukee police said the cause is undetermined, although it does not look suspicious.
MILWAUKEE —
A 4-year-old boy pulled from the second floor of a burning apartment building Sunday afternoon died later at Children’s Wisconsin.
His family identified him Monday as Ja-Rome Clark.
His mom told WISN 12 News Hannah Hilyard he had snuck upstairs while the rest of his family was downstairs watching cartoons.
“Next thing I knew, I just heard a loud boom and a sizzling sound. I made it upstairs. I opened the door. There was so much smoke I couldn’t get my son out,” his mom Stacy Watson said. “This is the worst hurt I ever had in my life. I wouldn’t wish this on nobody.”
Firefighters found the child, paramedics began performing life-saving measures and then rushed the boy to Children’s Wisconsin.
The fire department was called to the scene near North 84th Street and Mill Road at about 3 p.m.
WISN 12 News’ Kendall Keys spoke with a woman at the scene who said she heard screaming and ran into the smoke-filled building to try to save the child.
“When I get out of the car, all you hear is ‘Please, no! Help me! Not my baby, not my baby,’” neighbor Lashanda Blackmer said.
She said she attempted to find the boy in the smoke-filled building.
“I was inside of her house. We were literally up the stairs trying to get to the little boy,” Blackmer said.
When the smoke became too much for her to continue searching, Blackmer said she stuck by the mother’s side until Milwaukee firefighters pulled the boy from the flames.
“Calm down, I’m going to be here for you, I’m not going to leave your side. Your son is going to be okay. But then when they brought him out and I seen him, I still kept faith,” Blackmer said.
Police said the child died from his injuries hours later.
“Don’t nobody want to see or hear that their kid is dead, like no. And that really messed me up,” Blackmer said. “Hysterical. I could have fainted. I’m just lucky that it wasn’t my baby.”
Watson said investigators are telling her the cause was likely electrical. Milwaukee police said the cause is undetermined, although it does not look suspicious.
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Proud of our members and at the same time feeling the pain and fear so many who have been lost to the ravages of fire. Please offer support and if you’re so inclined prayers for a successful outcome. Horrible situation. https://t.co/XPVFhixCi9
An Overland Park family was able to escape unharmed after their home erupted in flames early Friday morning.Jeff Jennings, his wife, and their three grandchildren were all at home when fire broke out before 6 a.m.Jennings’ 10-year-old grandson, Jason, heard the glass breaking in his bedroom window, saw the flames and alerted the rest of the family.”He heard something. He came down, ‘The house is on fire. The house is on fire,’ and got everybody out,” Jennings said.Jennings said it all started when he was having trouble getting his smoker started at about 3 a.m. Friday morning to cook brisket for a party for former co-workers.”I used my wet-dry vac to clean out some of the pellets. Some of the pellets weren’t in good shape, so I was trying to clean those out and apparently, when I restarted it, after a couple times, an ember I think got into my wet-dry vac and that’s when I think it took off,” he said.After firefighters put out the flames, the uncooked brisket was still on the smoker’s grill.Overland Park Fire Department investigators confirm the wet-dry vac ignited and caused the fire.Spokesman Jason Rhodes said with winter weather, homeowners may be using fireplaces in addition to grills. He said used fuel should be stored in metal containers with lids at least 10 feet away from combustible surfaces.”Spent fuel can stay hot for days. And so, it’s really something you need to treat gingerly,” Rhodes said.Jennings was emotional when discussing the support he has received from neighbors, the Red Cross, and the community after the fire. He noted his youngest grandson’s principal came to pick him up and gave him some shoes to wear. Most of the Jennings family ran outside without shoes in the cold weather.”Our community is just awesome. The principal cares enough to come and get the kid. The fire department already has stuff to help you out. Red Cross came and helped cover our stay,” Jennings said.An insurance adjuster has already been to the house to prepare an estimate of damages. The Jennings family is staying at a hotel at least temporarily until their situation is sorted out.Rhodes said there were working smoke detectors in the house. He said the fire is a reminder for everyone to check to make sure smoke detector batteries are working.He also said any smoke detector more than 10 years old should be replaced.
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. —
An Overland Park family was able to escape unharmed after their home erupted in flames early Friday morning.
Jeff Jennings, his wife, and their three grandchildren were all at home when fire broke out before 6 a.m.
Jennings’ 10-year-old grandson, Jason, heard the glass breaking in his bedroom window, saw the flames and alerted the rest of the family.
“He heard something. He came down, ‘The house is on fire. The house is on fire,’ and got everybody out,” Jennings said.
Jennings said it all started when he was having trouble getting his smoker started at about 3 a.m. Friday morning to cook brisket for a party for former co-workers.
“I used my wet-dry vac to clean out some of the pellets. Some of the pellets weren’t in good shape, so I was trying to clean those out and apparently, when I restarted it, after a couple times, an ember I think got into my wet-dry vac and that’s when I think it took off,” he said.
After firefighters put out the flames, the uncooked brisket was still on the smoker’s grill.
Overland Park Fire Department investigators confirm the wet-dry vac ignited and caused the fire.
Spokesman Jason Rhodes said with winter weather, homeowners may be using fireplaces in addition to grills. He said used fuel should be stored in metal containers with lids at least 10 feet away from combustible surfaces.
“Spent fuel can stay hot for days. And so, it’s really something you need to treat gingerly,” Rhodes said.
Jennings was emotional when discussing the support he has received from neighbors, the Red Cross, and the community after the fire. He noted his youngest grandson’s principal came to pick him up and gave him some shoes to wear. Most of the Jennings family ran outside without shoes in the cold weather.
“Our community is just awesome. The principal cares enough to come and get the kid. The fire department already has stuff to help you out. Red Cross came and helped cover our stay,” Jennings said.
An insurance adjuster has already been to the house to prepare an estimate of damages. The Jennings family is staying at a hotel at least temporarily until their situation is sorted out.
Rhodes said there were working smoke detectors in the house. He said the fire is a reminder for everyone to check to make sure smoke detector batteries are working.
He also said any smoke detector more than 10 years old should be replaced.
AZLE, Texas (CBSDFW.COM) — A recently retired 25-year veteran of the Haltom City Police Department died on Sunday morning after a fire broke out at his house near Azle.
A recently retired Haltom City police officer died in a house fire in Azle on Oct. 23, 2022.
DFW Scanner
Retired Corporal Tony Miller, 62, of Azle, joined the department in 1997 and retired earlier this year.
A spokesperson for the department emphasized that Miller was a pillar of both the department and the community. His career began as a patrol officer. Soon after, he was then assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division as a detective.
Miller was later promoted to Corporal and worked in several special units, including Street Crimes and SWAT. He also served as a firearms instructor for the department.
After he retired as an officer, Miller returned to the department to work as a property technician.
Retired corporal Tony Miller
Haltom City Police Department via Facebook
Haltom City police said Miller’s “smile, laughter, and wealth of knowledge will not soon be forgotten” and asked residents of the city to pray for his family, friends, loved ones, and fellow officers as they mourn his loss.
No other injuries related to the fire have been reported and the investigation into what caused it is ongoing.
