9 dead, including 6 kids, in Memphis house fire
Nine people, including six children, died Monday morning in a Tennessee house blaze that fire officials called Memphis’ deadliest fire in almost a century.
Memphis Fire Director Gina Sweat confirmed the deaths during a news conference. She said one child pulled from the residence was still fighting for its life. The names of the victims were not released pending notification of next of kin.
Fire officials said 10 people were in the home on Severson Avenue in South Memphis when crews arrived at around 1:22 a.m. CT.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but Sweat said it appeared to have started in the living room.
Family members identified the adult victims as Carol Collier, 56; LaKisha Ward, 27, and Eloise Futrell, 61. The children ranged in age from 2 or 3 to 17, family members said.
The residential dwelling had light smoke showing when firefighters arrived. Firefighters removed 10 victims from the house. Four adults and three children were pronounced dead at the scene.
“After a heroic effort by fire- fighters and paramedics, three victims that were rescued were transported to Le Bonheur (Children’s Medical Center) in extremely critical condition,” Sweat said.
“According to our records, this is the most tragic loss of life in a single fire incident since the 1920s,” she said. “The hearts of the men and women of the department are heavy and deeply touched from the dispatchers who took the call to the first responders who were on the scene.”
A few hours after the fire, a red toy truck and part of a bike remained untouched by the fire on the porch of the burned house. Someone called 911. But by the time fire crews arrived, 10 people were trapped.
Neighbors said firefighters pulled victims from the onestory brick house and laid them on the front lawn. The bodies were covered with a tarp.
“I’ve never seen firemen cry, but they were bawling like babies when they brought the children out,” said Shoundra Hampton, whose family lives next door. “We’ve all lived over there for 40 years and we are just devastated.”