2 children pulled from residential fire in Fort Lauderdale

3-year-old was unconscious when found, authorities say

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Two children were pulled from a residential fire in Fort Lauderdale on Friday after they were left home alone, authorities said.

The fire was reported about 11:30 a.m. at a fourplex at 1551 SW 38th Ave.

According to Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue officials, three police officers were the first to arrive at the scene, but were unable to get inside the home.

The officers grabbed fire extinguishers from their cars and tried to put the fire out as much as possible.

Firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke and flames coming from the home.

Authorities pulled two children from the fire. 

Fort Lauderdale Deputy Fire Chief Timothy Heiser said authorities were told exactly where the children were in the house, which made it easier for firefighters to get them out.

"When you find out it's children, it ups the ante on the call because we all have children," Heiser said.  

According to Fort Lauderdale police spokeswoman Tracy Figone, the children are 8 and 3. 

Authorities said the 3-year-old was unconscious when found. The other child suffered less serious injuries.

Both were taken to Broward Health Medical Center. 

Three police officers were also taken to the hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.

Figone said detectives are investigating the incident as child neglect because the young children were left home alone. 

No arrests have been made at this time. 

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

 


 


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Jenise Fernandez joined the Local 10 News team in November 2014. She is thrilled to be back home reporting for the station she grew up watching. Jenise, who is from Miami and graduated from Florida International University, also interned at Local 10 while she was in college.