Louisiana Firefighters Rescue 1-Year-Old From Blaze

June 10, 2005
A year-old boy left behind as his family escaped from a kitchen fire was rescued by firefighters who searched for victims through heavy smoke -- even after family members had told them everyone was safely outside.

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) -- A year-old boy left behind as his family escaped from a kitchen fire was rescued by firefighters who searched for victims through heavy smoke -- even after family members had told them everyone was safely outside.

The boy was in good condition, said Bob Gateley, assistant fire chief of Baton Rouge's East Side Fire Department.

At the time of Thursday's fire _ which is believed to have ignited after an adult left cooking french fries unattended _ there were three adults and seven children in the house, Gateley said.

Most were out in the front yard by the time firefighters arrived and asked if everyone had gotten out safely.

''The adults told us, 'Yes,' everyone was out,'' Gateley said.

Gateley said department procedures called for the house to be searched anyway, if possible. He said the home was filled with heavy black smoke by the time he and his men went in.

''When we got there, there were flames and a lot of smoke ... I made my way back to a bedroom and there was a baby lying on the floor,'' he said. ''He was half-conscious and whining.''

Gateley said the baby was taken to Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center for treatment of smoke inhalation.

Firefighters said there were no smoke alarms in the house.

Voice Your Opinion!

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