Florida Firefighter Speaks of Child's Death

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. --

Eric Reddish remembers the day well.

The firefighter spoke Friday about being inside a home that caught fire, trapping and killing a 3-year-old boy inside.

"I remember particularly the little boy's mother being upset," Eric Reddish said. "I don't even want to think about how it makes her feel."

Reddish spent about 12 minutes inside the home, but he said it felt like an eternity.

"Anytime when it's a child, you know it's harder," Reddish added. "I have three kids, and I do actually have a 3-year-old, so it does make it hard."

The day 3-year-old Keyontaye Bell was trapped inside, Reddish said his job was to bring the hose inside and put out the flames.

But he said the blaze was very intense.

The house was hot like an oven and pitch black inside, which made it difficult not only to put out the fire, but also to find Keyontaye.

"There was zero visibility," Reddish said. "The smoke was hot, the environment was hot, and we had no choice but to be on the floor. It was after several searches till we were actually able to find the victim."

Video: Firefighter Speaks

Reddish said the gear he was wearing the day of the fire was completely destroyed. He said the sleeves were completely black, and he believes he withstood temperatures of 1,700 degrees.

Reddish said it wasn't until the fire was out that he realized he was hurt.

He had second-degree burns on his ears and left hand, and first-degree burns to his shoulders.

He was also treated for heat exhaustion.

But he said what he went through was trivial in light of Keyontaye's death.

"I didn't think it was that big of a deal, compared to what that family had lost," Reddish said.

The fire marshal said the cause of the fire is still under investigation.