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Independence, MO —
Independence Fire Department crews Monday morning worked a house fire that one official described as a once-in-a-career occurrence.
At about 7:30 a.m. Monday, the department responded to a fire in the 13000 block of East 44th Terrace South. Assistant Fire Chief Tom Collins said crews saw heavy smoke coming from the structure upon arrival.
A mother and two of her young children, ages 4 and 1, escaped the fire, but a 3-year-old girl was still in the back bedroom, Collins said.
Department crew members entered the home and encountered heavy smoke in the hallways, Collins said. The 3-year-old child was still in a back bedroom with the door closed, Collins said, and crew members were able to rescue her safely.
“People can work their entire careers and not have everything go as perfectly as this went. Everyone did good in supporting the rescue and fire attack – it all went really well,” Collins said. “These guys did a heck of a job. It was an absolutely excellent call.”
The cause of the fire was accidental, the department said, and was caused by possible electrical malfunction of the clothes dryer. Two of the children and the mother received medical treatment on the scene, Collins said, and the 1-year-old and 3-year-old were taken to Children’s Mercy Hospital for non-life threatening injuries.
In a news release late Monday afternoon, the Fire Department reminded residents of several home fire safety tips, including that every home should have at least one smoke alarm on every level of the home. Those alarms should be tested monthly, and batteries should be changed at least once a year.
Residents also should have a home fire escape plan that should be practiced during the nighttime and daytime hours at least twice a year. The Independence Fire Department provides smoke alarms at no cost to residents, based on need. Apply at Independence Fire Station 1, 950 N. Spring St., between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Enter on the building's west side.
Because the family affected in Monday’s house fire had a working smoke detector and had slept with the doors shut, extra time was gained in escaping the home safely, Collins said.
“It probably saved the little girl’s life,” he said, “but maybe all of their lives.”
Independence Fire Department crews Monday morning worked a house fire that one official described as a once-in-a-career occurrence.
At about 7:30 a.m. Monday, the department responded to a fire in the 13000 block of East 44th Terrace South. Assistant Fire Chief Tom Collins said crews saw heavy smoke coming from the structure upon arrival.
A mother and two of her young children, ages 4 and 1, escaped the fire, but a 3-year-old girl was still in the back bedroom, Collins said.
Department crew members entered the home and encountered heavy smoke in the hallways, Collins said. The 3-year-old child was still in a back bedroom with the door closed, Collins said, and crew members were able to rescue her safely.
“People can work their entire careers and not have everything go as perfectly as this went. Everyone did good in supporting the rescue and fire attack – it all went really well,” Collins said. “These guys did a heck of a job. It was an absolutely excellent call.”
The cause of the fire was accidental, the department said, and was caused by possible electrical malfunction of the clothes dryer. Two of the children and the mother received medical treatment on the scene, Collins said, and the 1-year-old and 3-year-old were taken to Children’s Mercy Hospital for non-life threatening injuries.
In a news release late Monday afternoon, the Fire Department reminded residents of several home fire safety tips, including that every home should have at least one smoke alarm on every level of the home. Those alarms should be tested monthly, and batteries should be changed at least once a year.
Residents also should have a home fire escape plan that should be practiced during the nighttime and daytime hours at least twice a year. The Independence Fire Department provides smoke alarms at no cost to residents, based on need. Apply at Independence Fire Station 1, 950 N. Spring St., between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Enter on the building's west side.
Because the family affected in Monday’s house fire had a working smoke detector and had slept with the doors shut, extra time was gained in escaping the home safely, Collins said.
“It probably saved the little girl’s life,” he said, “but maybe all of their lives.”
