Highrise Fire Sends Three Young Children To Hospital
Posted October 20, 2008 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
It was one of those frightening scenarios that horrifies tenants and worries rescue workers – a fire in a high rise apartment with children inside. Crews were called to 1307 Wilson Ave. near Keele around 3:30pm Monday, after the fire quickly escalated to a two-alarm blaze.
Witnesses called 911 after flames were seen shooting out of a bedroom window (top left). Firefighters say it was intense but short lived. It could have been contained to just one unit but residents fleeing the apartment made a serious mistake in their panic to get out.
“The apartment door was left open and that ended up exasperating the smoke conditions in the rest of the building,” explains Acting Platoon Chief Roy Law.
It also created some terrible moments for other parents escaping the building. “I couldn’t even see. I lost my 4-year-old for a couple seconds,” recalls Kelly Derbyshire with a shudder. “I was terrified … I lost him for a few minutes and then someone just came out of the smoke and grabbed him and ran down with me.”
There were seven people inside the originating apartment – four adults and three young children, ages 12, 6 and 7 months old. The middle youngster experienced burns to her hands and was treated at the same hospital as the rest of her family, who are believed to have suffered smoke inhalation.
The good news is that the injuries could have been worse and while painful, they’re not considered serious.
The fire was quickly brought under control and the residents were allowed back in about three hours later. It’s not clear what started the blaze.
