Thursday, January 22, 2015

FIRE CREWS FIND BABY’S REMAINS AMONG FIRE DEBRIS IN DAYTON, OHIO




FIRE CREWS FIND BABY’S REMAINS AMONG FIRE DEBRIS IN DAYTON, OHIO



January 22, 2015
DAYTON — OHIO
A 4-month-old baby boy is dead in a fire at his grandmother’s house on Kilmer Street in Dayton.
  • Baby’s remains found in rear of home
  • Grandmother injured, but OK
  • House destroyed by flames
  • Family said baby was inside, couldn’t get him
  • The cause of the fire under investigation
  • Firefighters searched by hand for baby


UPDATE @5:24 p.m.: Fire crews have found the remains of 4-month-old Michael Shorter, whose grandmother’s house caught on fire this afternoon. The child’s body was found in the back of the house, officials said.
UPDATE @4:47 p.m.: Fire officials are preparing to talk with the child’s grandmother to help them narrow down where Michael was in the home before the blaze, Dayton Fire Chief Jeff Payne said, noting that she’s recovering at a local hospital. Crews are also considering bringing a human remains dog to the scene to help in the search, the chief said.
It appears that the fire was accidental, but the investigation into the cause is ongoing, Payne said. Utilities at the home had been turned off for some time, and the residents were using the wood-burning stove to heat the house, Payne said.
UPDATE @2:26 p.m.: The state fire marshal is also on scene assisting more than 20 firefighters in a search for a 4-month-old feared dead in a fire.
Officials said the search could take hours. Once the victim is found, the coroner’s office will be called to pick up the investigation, officials said. At that point, fire officials will re-interview survivors as part of their own investigation.
UPDATE @2:15 p.m.: Fire officials said more than 20 firefighters remain on scene of a fire as a search continues for a 4-month-old feared dead.
Officials said they are sifting through debris by hand as they search for Michael Shorter. A chimney fell over in the blaze, making the search more difficult.
UPDATE @1:30 p.m.: Fire crews are sifting through debris and rubble of a home that caught fire today as a search continues for a baby boy feared dead.
A backhoe was also being used in the search.
UPDATE @ 12:45p.m.: Dayton Fire Chief Jeff Payne said the family was using a wood burning stove in the home when sheets nearby caught fire. The grandmother tried to put out the flames with water but the fire became overwhelming.
UPDATE @11:50 a.m.: The child missing is four-month-old Michael Shorter, according to Aurielle Shorter, who said she is the baby’s mother. The baby’s grandmother was taken to a local hospital after suffering from smoke inhalation. She is expected to survive. Shorter said she also lives in the home, but was away from the house when the fire started.
UPDATE @11:23 a.m.: Dayton Fire Chief Jeff Payne said an infant child was missing and suspected dead in a fully involved house fire Thursday morning on Kilmer Street.
“Crews tried to make entry and begin to search the house, but at that point we were driven back by heat and flame and had to exit the structure,” Payne said. “Half the duplex was occupied by a lady and a grandchild. The adult was taken for treatment at a local hospital. The infant child is unaccounted for and this is possibly a fatal fire.”
The child, who was around 4-5 months old, was initially reported to be on the first floor of the home, but Payne said that report was not confirmed.
The adult is expected to survive, he said.
Dayton fire officials said a child is missing after a Dayton house became engulfed in flames. A grandmother who was in the home was removed to a local hospital for smoke inhalation. Her injuries are not life-threatening. Officials said the grandmother went to investigate after she smelled smoke, but soon became overwhelmed by heat and smoke. She was not able to get back to where the child was.


UPDATE @11:09 a.m.: A homicide detective was called to the scene. However, we have not confirmed if the fire was fatal. We’ll continue to monitor the situation and bring you the latest.
FIRST REPORT
Fire crews are responding to a house fire where a child is possibly trapped.
The fire was reported just after 10 a.m. in the 150 block of North Kilmer Street. Initial reports indicate a child may be inside.
Fire crews gained entry into the home, but the fire spread to the second floor and crews were called out to fight the fire defensively.
Flames could be seen shooting through the roof, and a neighboring home caught fire. The state fire marshal has been called to the scene.