Man Injured After Jumping Out Window To Escape Deadly House Fire
DETROIT (WWJ) - One woman is dead and another man is fighting for his life after jumping from a second story window as fire consumed his home on Detroit's east side.
Fire broke out at the two-story home on Crane Street, near Van Dyke and Warren Avenue, around 9 a.m. Saturday.
As firefighters battled the blaze, a crowd of neighbors gathered to watch, including Zoldack Cargle -- who told WWJ's Kathryn Larson that his neighbor, Maurice Simmons, had to jump out of the window to avoid the fire.
"That's the only way he could escape. You see them two top windows is busted? I happened to be coming from the store and seen the smoke. Then, I seen him up on the side of the house. We made him sit down and we called the fire department and paramedics," he said.
Cargle said Simmons had burns all over his body and his arm was mangled from the fall, but he was conscious and talking about his girlfriend, who was apparently trapped inside the house.
Firefighters rushed back into the home and found the body of 25-year old Jennifer Edmonds by an upstairs window. She was declared dead at the scene. A cause of death hasn't been determined.
Simmons was transported to a local hospital for treatment. No other injuries were reported.
"People, you know, when you're in a fight for your life, you've got to do what you have to do," said Fire Chief David Johnson. "He jumped out the second floor window. He's got cuts and burns to his face and all over his body."
Officials are now trying to determine a cause of the fire. An investigation is ongoing.
Edmonds leaves behind two young boys; two-year old Dakarias Edwards and five-year old Adjanty Edwards and a fiance Simeon Turner.
Stay with WWJ Newsradio 950 and CBSDetroit.com for the latest.
