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.
