Someone inside the house dialed 911 at 1:23 a.m. Monday, Memphis Fire Services Lt. Wayne Cooke told The Washington Post.
Advertisement
Investigators say the house had a security door and bars on windows and the family was unable to open the bars in time and escape.
The lieutenant said to look for a smoke detector that is UL listed and one that is backed by the National Fire Protection Association.
The fire began in the living room and only consumed about a fifth of the building, said fire officials.
Neighbour Shoundra Hampton told The Tennessean: “I’ve never seen firemen cry, but they were bawling like babies when they brought the children out”. The children, they said, ranged in age from 3 to 16.
Family members identified the adults who died in the fire as Carol Collier, Eloise Futrell, and LaKisha Ward.
They said they only saw light smoke inside the home.
Fire officials say four adults and three children died at the scene, while another three children died later after being taken to Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in “extremely critical condition”.
“There were some [victims] that appeared to be mostly smoke inhalation, but there were some burn victims as well”, she said.
He said: “It’s a very sad day”. It then took 15 minutes for fire crews to put out the fire and pull the family of 10 out of the home. “We are all in mourning”.
Fire officials in Tennessee say nine people are dead after a blaze enveloped a home in Memphis in the early hours. “As I walked among the firefighters and the paramedics on the scene this morning, I could see the pain in their eyes, and I could feel the heavy emotions in their hearts”.
Frederick Terrell said he knew the family well and is stunned. Neighbors stood by, watching as fire officials went about the house, now cordoned by yellow crime scene tape draped on a fence out front. He added they used to have neighborhood parties and were a close-knit family.
Advertisement
“It’s hard. Those kids were so loving, man”. Other people hugged each other and prayed together along the street.
