St. Louis Crews Save Four Children in Burning Apartment

Aug. 15, 2019
Three of the children who were pulled out of the fire were in cardiac arrest, but all four eventually were breathing on their own and in stable condition at the hospital.

St. Louis firefighters rescued four children younger than 4 years trapped in a burning apartment Thursday. Three of the children were in cardiac arrest when they were pulled from the blaze.

A fire on the second story of the house broke out at around 1 p.m., and crews in six apparatus responded to the scene, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. The children were discovered during a search of the home, with firefighters locating one child near a closed door, one in a closet and two in a play ten.

Once out on the street, firefighters performed CPR on the three children in cardiac arrest. All four, including 18-month-old twins, were taken to the hospital, with one child in critical and unstable condition. By 3:15, the children all were in stable condition and breathing on their own, according to the Post-Dispatch.

"But for the grace of God, we have four children that are still alive now," Fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson told reporters.

Three of the children who suffered from smoke inhalation were being held overnight for observation. The children had been home alone when the apartment caught fire.

Crews had the fire controlled just before 1:30 p.m., and firefighters discovered at least one broken smoke detector in a playroom, the Post-Dispatch added. The cause of the blaze is under investigation. 

Voice Your Opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Firehouse, create an account today!