4-Year-Old Dies In Baltimore Apartment Fire; 3 Others Hospitalized
BALTIMORE (WJZ)--Authorities are still trying to figure out what caused the fast-moving smoke and flames that killed one little girl and led to the rescue of almost a dozen people in northeast Baltimore on Friday night.
An 18-month old boy, also inside that home at the time of the blaze, remains in the hospital in critical but stable condition.
WJZ Investigator Mike Hellgren has the latest.
A heartbroken family friend provided WJZ pictures of 4-year-old Sky, who was tragically killed in a fire that swept through two apartments near York Road and Northern Parkway.
"When I heard someone screaming, I think it was the lady who lived in the apartment upstairs," said Quentin Butler.
Quentin Butler's friend jumped. He not only heard screams, but saw smoke, never thinking children were inside.
A neighbor started stapling stuffed animals to the tree out front on Saturday, a memorial that grew throughout the day.
"I did it as a tribute to children because my heart goes out to children, too much going on in world with children dying for no apparent reason," said a neighbor named Karen.
Fire crews say when they arrive on the scene, smoke was bellowing out of the second floor windows. Several people jumped, others had to be rescued by ladder trucks.
Fire officials say they don't know if the home had working smoke detectors.
In the wake of this tragedy, firefighters held their Smoke Alarm Sweep, going through several Baltimore neighborhoods on Saturday to install smoke detectors.
Firefighters also talked to people in the neighborhood about escape plans in case fire breaks out in their homes.
A big problem in this fire was the smoke, that's why several people felt their best way out was jumping.
Right now, friends of the family are trying to set up a memorial fund.
