4-year-old dies in fire despite rescue try
To those who knew him, the 4-year-old boy was fun-loving and affectionate, offering up hugs and smiles to neighbors along Humphrey Avenue in Franklin Township.
The blaze that took his life early Friday and injured his mother broke out at the rear of the home in western Franklin County his family had rented for less than a year.
To those who tried to rescue the boy, the fire left them wondering if they could have done more.
Virgil Collins, a next-door neighbor, said his efforts fell short of saving him.
Collins heard someone banging at his door just before 6:30 a.m. “I ran over and kicked in the back door and crawled all over the house, looking for the baby,” Collins said. “I told her, ‘You get your mom out; I’ll look for the baby.’”
A Vietnam veteran, the 65-year-old was trained in survival and rescue and knew
to stay close to the floor.
“I was hollerin’ for him. You couldn’t see nothing,” he said of the choking smoke.
“If there was any way to save him, I would ... I did the best I could,” Collins said.
The state fire marshal’s office is conducting the investigation. Officials have not released details, including the cause.
Franklin Township Assistant Chief Chas Adams said the boy’s mother was taken to Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center in serious condition for smoke inhalation and burns.
The grandmother also was taken there for precautionary reasons.
A township firefighter was treated for minor injuries at Mount Carmel West hospital.
As a command officer, without oxygen or turnout gear with him when he arrived, Adams said he was not able to enter the home, despite being first on the scene and finding flames shooting from windows.
“It’s the worst part of the job. I can’t go in by myself,” he said. “Our guys worked their tails off to get in there, to find this kid, despite how advanced the fire was.”
Diana Courtright, who lives nearby, said she’ll miss the boy’s greetings and hugs.
“That’s the tragic part, a little boy who never gets to enjoy the rest of his life,” she said.
Though the fire’s cause has yet to be determined, Battalion Chief Steve Martin of the Columbus Division of Fire said residents should be extra cautious as the weather gets colder.
Such early morning fires are typically related to heating appliances.
“Anything that provides heat in cold weather can lead to fire if it’s not handled correctly,” Martin said. “It’s important to get furnaces and heaters cleaned and checked.” This list is compiled from voluntary submissions by parents to hospitals.
Heather and Mike: girl, Nov. 25
Tiawni/ Rashawn: boy, Nov. 16 Jasmine/ Taquan: boy, Nov. 18 Stephanie/ boy, Nov. 30 Brittany and Matthew: girl, Nov. 12 Sarah and Brandon: boy, Nov. 18 Jaclyn and Cheyenne: boy, Nov. 29 Erendira/ John: Areli:
Tamara: boy, Nov. 26 Stephanie/ Travis: boy, Nov. 29
Jacleine/ Brittany/ Nov. 30 Alysse and Thomas: boy, Oct. 30 Antoinette and Scott: boy, Nov. 30
C.: girl, Dec. 1 Paul: girl, Treniece and Sean: girl, Nov. 30 The American Red Cross has an ongoing need for donors of all blood types, especially type O negative. Donors can call 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767) or go to redcrossblood.org to schedule an appointment. Walk-in donors also are welcome. Blood drives are open today at: 2587 N. High St., 10 a. m.- 3 p. m.
4820 Sawmill Road, 7: 15 a. m.- 2: 30 p. m.
1327 Cameron Ave., Lewis Center, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. 337 Stoneridge Lane, Gahanna, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
8345 Blacklick Eastern Road, Pickerington, 9 a. m.- 2 p. m.