Baltimore house fire kills child, seriously injures two and displaces 19 residents
BALTIMORE -- An 8-year-old boy died, a girl and man were seriously injured and 19 were displaced after a fire in Southeast Baltimore Tuesday morning.
Crews responded around 2 a.m. to the house fire in the 3400 block of East Lombard Street, where they found "heavy fire and smoke conditions" coming from a two-story building, Baltimore City Fire Department spokesperson Kevin Cartwright said.
We are live here on the 3400 block of East Lombard Street where firefighters rescued 2 kids and an adult from inside a two story building. They are unconscious and were taken to the hospital. 19 people are also displaced. I’ll have more details on @wjz this morning pic.twitter.com/AwQRxNoPK8
— Alexus Davila (@AlexusVDavila) February 27, 2024
As crews worked to knock down the fire, a rescue team found three unconscious, unresponsive people inside, Cartwright said. The victims were treated on the scene before being transported to area hospitals.
An exclusive video shared with WJZ shows the dramatic moments a deadly fire erupted.
Neighbors tell WJZ they were woken up by their fire alarm as smoke began to fill their homes.
"The first thought that came to my head was is it next door or is it in my kitchen? Our fire alarm was telling us fire, fire," Davawna Davis, a neighbor, said.
The home three doors down from Dawana was on fire.
Firefighters pulled three people from the flames, one of them an eight-year-old boy.
"The paramedics came walking out the door and was just holding his little body and you could tell. He was covered in soot. You could tell he was not okay," Sara Tussing, another neighbor, said.
The two other victims - a 13-year-old girl and a 22-year-old man - are in critical condition.
"You see these people, they're your neighbors, and I just feel really bad for them," Tussing said.
Hello Neighbors,
— Zeke Cohen (@Zeke_Cohen) February 27, 2024
At approximately 2:05 AM this morning, BCFD responded to an active fire in the 3400 block of E. Lombard St. Three victims - ages 8,13 and 22- were transported to area hospitals. The eight-year-old was pronounced dead at the hospital, the other two victims remain… pic.twitter.com/OUopbanMZt
Firefighters say 19 people were displaced as a result of this fire.
"We will work with MONSE's victim services team and the Red Cross to ensure that the victims and displaced neighbors are relocated and receive the care they need," Baltimore City Councilman Zeke Cohen said.
Cohen, who represents the First District where the fire happened, said donation efforts are being coordinated through Pastor Mark Parker and Breath of God Church.
Part of Lombard Street was closed off Tuesday morning, and a detour was in place.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott released a statement following the fire. He said, in part, "my heart aches for everyone who has been touched by this tragedy."
An investigation is ongoing into the cause of the fire.