Saturday, February 14, 2015

EIGHT-MONTH-OLD BOY DIES IN HOUSE FIRE IN NORFOLK, VIRGINIA. SPACE HEATERS WERE BEING USED IN THE HOUSE AND MAY HAVE SPARKED THE FIRE








FEBRUARY 14, 2015




NORFOLK, VIRGINIA:




An 8-month-old boy is dead after fire swept through a Norfolk duplex early Saturday.




Firefighters arrived in the 800 block of Little Bay Avenue just after 6 a.m. and saw smoke and flames coming from the building.




Battalion Chief Julian Williamson said a man and woman were outside when crews arrived. 




"The mother told them she tried to get back inside to save her child, in the bedroom, but the smoke and fire was too much," he said.



Firefighters fought the fire and searched for the child at the same time, but the child hadn't survived.




It took crews 40 minutes to get the fire out. 




Chief Williamson says space heaters were being used in the unit and may have caused the fire. He wasn't sure whether there were working smoke alarms.



A 13News Now viewer sent us photos showing police and fire trucks at the scene, which is next to Captain's Quarters Park. He said there were as many as eight fire trucks at the start of the fire.




There is extensive damage to the building. Neighbors are still trying to come to grips with the horrible tragedy.




"It's a horrible thing to lose a child, My heart goes out to them and I hope we can help them out with whatever they need and show some sense of community here. I know we will," said Joe Schein, who lives nearby.




A neighboring home was briefly evacuated during the firefight, but the residents have been allowed to return. That home had siding damaged by heat, Williamson noted.




Chief Williamson had these safety tips :




For space heater use:



-Keep them at least three feet away from walls and/or flammables.



-Never leave a heater on and leave children or pets



-Don't leave them on at night when you're sleeping.



-Heat your room and then unplug it 30 minutes before you go to sleep or leave.



-Make sure they're approved by UL or another accredited company.



- Be careful not to overload any electrical circuits.




For smoke alarms:



-Make sure you have one in every room.



-Test them at least once a month.



-Norfolk Fire and Rescue will install a free smoke alarm for residents. Contact 664-6616 to schedule an appointment.