Young Girl Critically Injured in
Christmas Day Apartment Fire

 
Date:
 		 December 25, 2002
Location:
 		 1507 Annex Street @ San Jacinto
Response:
 		 5 pieces of heavy fire equipment, 20 firefighters
Times:
 

1st alarm – 12:15 p.m.; under control @ 12:45 p.m.

Cause:
 

Under Investigation
Injuries:

 

 

7-year-old female transported to Baylor Hospital suffering from smoke inhalation
17-year-old female treated on the scene for cuts to the arm and hands
25-year-old male treated on the scene for cuts to the arm and hands
1 firefighter transported to Parkland Hospital with 2nd degree burns to the hands
Damage:
 		 $160,000
   
Details:

 

 

 

 

 



 

 Firefighters driving back to their fire station noticed smoke and immediately tried to determine where it was coming from.  When they arrived in front of the 2-story apartments in the 1500 block of Annex, they were met by residents waving them down and reporting that one of the units was on fire.  After requesting a full structure fire response, first arriving firefighters were told that a child was still inside the burning apartment.  While making an aggressive interior attack on the fire and quickly performing a search, firefighters found a 7-year-old female in a back bathroom.  It is believed that she barricaded herself in the bathroom after the fire started, as the door was closed and she was found unconscious on the floor between the vanity and the toilet. She has been transferred from Baylor Hospital to Childrens Medical Center, where she is listed in critical condition.  There were several other people inside the apartment when the fire started who were able to escape safely.  Two people were injured trying to get to the little girl through a back window.  Paramedics treated both on the scene.  One firefighter suffered 2nd degree burns to his hands while searching for the missing girl inside the burning apartment.  He was treated and released from Parkland Hospital.  The fire was mostly contained to the ground floor unit with some extension to the apartment above.  Four other units have minor smoke damage. The American Red Cross responded to the scene to help displaced residents with temporary housing, as the power has been shut off to all 18 apartment units in the building.  The cause of the fire is still under investigation at this time.