St. Louis Duplex Blaze Leaves One Dead, Two Critical

Nov. 17, 2012
A smoke alarm on the second floor alerted the three people who escaped.

Nov. 17--ST. LOUIS -- One person was killed and two critically injured in an early morning duplex fire in the 3500 block of Giles Avenue.

Officials weren't releasing the name of the person who died or those injured until family could be notified.

Fire engulfed the two-family brick home at 4 a.m. Fire officials said a smoke alarm sounded on the second level of the structure alerting three people who escaped.

Heavy smoke poured from the first floor of the home when firefighters arrived, St. Louis Fire Department Capt. Dan Sutter said.

"Firefighters searched and located two victims and brought them outside," Sutter said.

Sutter said both victims are listed in critical condition at area hospitals.

Firefighters re-entered the house and made their way to the rear where they found a third victim. That person was pronounced dead at the scene, he said.

Sutter said fire investigators are trying to determine the cause and also whether there were smoke detectors on the first floor.

Sutter said an adult and two children that escaped the flames said their smoke alarms sounded.

"They told us that they had just changed their batteries during daylight saving time change in the first week of November," Sutter said.

Smoke detectors are given out free to city residents at all fire houses, Sutter said. Anyone needing an alarm can call the fire department at 314-533-3406.

"We encourage everyone to plan an escape exit and practice it," Sutter said.

Mayor Francis Slay appeared on the scene of the fire with smoke detectors. He along with fire officials expressed their condolences to survivors and went door to door handing out detectors.

Fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson stressed the need for smoke detectors.

"Twenty years ago people used to be inside yelling for help and now they are outside yelling for help," Jenkerson said. "That's because of the smoke detectors."

Copyright 2012 - St. Louis Post-Dispatch

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