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.