Sunday, January 25, 2015

TOASTER OVEN THAT WAS USED AS A HEATING SOURCE TO BLAME FOR FIRE THAT KILLED 2 SIBLINGS AND INJURED TWO OTHERS IN MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA




HOME HEATING EQUIPMENT IS A LEADING CAUSE OF HOME FIRE DEATHS:  TOASTER OVEN THAT WAS USED AS A HEATING SOURCE TO BLAME FOR FIRE THAT KILLED 2 SIBLINGS AND INJURED TWO OTHERS IN MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA. 


 


January 23, 2015

MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) - Montgomery fire officials have confirmed that the blaze that killed two family members and injured two others was caused by a toaster oven that was being used to help heat the home.
The tragic house fire in a west Montgomery neighborhood claimed the lives of two young children. Their father and sister also suffered burns.

"The fire on Alexander Street has been determined to be accidental due to combustible materials being too close to a heat source. A toaster oven was being used for heat in a bedroom," said District Chief James Petrey with the Montgomery Fire Department on Wednesday.

Tymothy Jackson and his wife, Jessica Byrd, put their three kids to bed and stepped outside to talk to neighbors. When they realized their house at 751 Alexander Street was on fire, Jackson along with neighbors and family members tried to rescue the children, but as the flames spread, they were only able to get one of them out.

"They did what all of us have done. We put our kids to bed and come back outside for a little while and then before you know it, a freak of nature happens," the victims' grandmother, Hattie Byrd, told WSFA 12 News.

One-month-old Ty'Leah Jackson and three-year-old Tymothy Jackson, Jr. were killed. A photo provided by their family shows the severe burns their father suffered to his face, hands and arms trying to save them. Chief Petrey says the toaster oven was not being used in the room where the children were found. The temperature dropped into the 20's that night.
Family members declined to speak out about the fire department's findings related to the cause of the blaze. 
“We're taking things one day at a time and God is in control of everything,” Hattie Byrd said when the information was released.
"Once they realized the fire had started, the father and a couple of family members and neighborhood friends tried to get in the house to save the kids and the father took severe second degree burns all to the face, hands and arms to his body in attempts to get all of three of them," Donnell Byrd said.

“You can say the dad's a hero. He did what a dad is supposed to do by going in there and getting his child. He did all he can do,” added Dewillis Rivers, the victims' cousin. “They truly love their kids.”

Terrell Hardy, a neighbor, described the frantic moments as flames and smoke engulfed the house and he decided to help, reaching 2-year-old Ty'Breanna Jackson, the only child who survived the blaze.

“It was hot and scary at first, but as I kneeled down, I seen a baby and when she went out and she came a little closer to the door and I said I'm gonna go get this baby so I got a box to put over my head. I grabbed her and I just came on out,” he said.

According to the State Fire Marshal's Office there were 87 Alabamians who lost their lives in fires in 2014 and already in 2015, there have been five fire deaths.

“These tragic deaths could have likely been prevented. If the fires are prevented, so are these fatalities, thus ‘Turn Your Attention to Fire Prevention' became our slogan last year,” said Steve Holmes, a spokesman for the agency. Fire officials across the state have pledged to make fire prevention a year-round effort.

Home heating equipment is a leading cause of home fire deaths in Alabama, with almost half of the fatal blazes occurring in the months of December, January and February. Last January alone, 28 people lost their lives in fires as temperatures dropped and different heating methods were used.

"This time of year, we have a lot of people that are trying to stay warm that may not have central heat and air. In those cases, we try to tell anybody that's using space heaters that you need to have three feet of space around any type of combustible," said Harold Bellinger, MFD's Chief Investigator. "If you have a space heater, you want to make sure that it's UL approved and that it has a safety switch where if it was to turn over, it automatically cuts off."

The River Region United Way says families who need help staying warm this winter can call 2-1-1. Callers can be connected with a number of local agencies.
"Now is the time when families need to be thinking about winterizing their homes and getting assistance with utility bills if they find themselves in this situation. Unfortunately, too many people wait until it's cold and their home is cold to think about this," said River Region United Way President & CEO Jimmy Hill. "You can call 211 and a social services emergency to get the assistance that you need. They are a database of resources and information for people that have need. They can just pick up and simply dial 211, talk to a 211 operator, tell them what their need is and then 211 will help match them with resources in the community to get them the help that they desire."
He says there are agencies that can assist with utilities and organizations that can help provide blankets and other items. 
"Call now and get the assistance that you need in preparation for cold weather because it's coming again and we all know that so get the help you need while the weather is warm and while resources may be available," Hill added. "Obviously our sympathy goes out to the Jackson family. It's a tragic situation."