Lauderhill Fire Claims Life Of Young Boy, Another Rescued
FT. LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) – An eight-year-old boy died early Monday morning when a fire broke out inside a Lauderhill townhome.
Police identify the child as 8-year-old Jayden Isme.
Lauderhill firefighters received the call about the fire at 2031 NW 59th Way, around 4:30 a.m.
Evlyne Mondestin woke up to the screams of her young neighbor, nine year old Justin Isme. Police said he jumped out a second story window to escape the fire and then went to get help.
"He tell me mami, fire, fire inside the house," said Mondestin.
Mondestin said she and Justin ran inside the burning townhome to reach the boy's brother, Jayden, who was nicknamed Yo Yo.
When they reached the second floor where he was, they found it engulfed in flames.
"We called him Yo Yo, Yo Yo, Yo Yo was sleeping we cannot get Yo Yo," said Mondestin. "The fire was all over the place, in the back and the front and we cannot do nothing for that little boy."
Watch Joan Murray's report, click here.
Click here to watch Natalia Zea's noon report.
Firefighters arrived within three minutes but couldn't reach the child either.
"Once firefighters got into the house they tried to knock out the fire, however the intensity of the fire was so great the ceiling was actually collapsing on them," said Lauderhill police Lt. MIchael Butkus. They later discovered Jayden's body.
Justin Isme was taken to Plantation General Hospital where he was expected to be okay.
The children live in the townhome with their mother. Their father stays there occasionally.
Mondestin said Justin tried to call his parents who she says had left them alone.
"The boy called the mother, she don't answer the phone. The boy called the father, the father don't answer the phone," said Mondestin.
"After that the mother and the father come together and when they come they scream. They left their kids by themselves inside the house."
Next door neighbor Michael Florent said the boys were often left alone.
"It's a tragedy. Should probably take it as a lesson learned. Kids shoudn't be left home by themselves," said Florent.
The boys' father posted a photo on his Facebook page two hours after the fire started which showed him and Justin crying. The caption reads 'Please cherish every sec. Yooooooooooyooooooo.'
Police are interviewing the parents and other family members to determine whether this was a case of criminal negligence.
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