Three Children Perish in Suburban Detroit House Fire; Smoke Alarms Absent
WEST BLOOMFIELD, Mich.—A tragic house fire over the weekend led to the deaths of three children in suburban Detroit, according to local authorities.
The three siblings—a 16-year-old girl and her two brothers, ages 15 and 12—were unable to escape the blaze that occurred on Sunday evening, stated Byron Turnquist, the fire marshal for West Bloomfield Township.
One of the children managed to dial 911 to alert authorities about the fire. Investigators later discovered that the home lacked smoke detectors.
“Functional smoke alarms provide early warning, giving residents a chance to evacuate,” Turnquist remarked to The Associated Press.
Firefighters were required to breach the premises to gain access. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and it was reported that no adults were home at the time.
“The level of smoke was so thick on the street that we struggled to breathe, so one can only imagine the situation for the children inside,” said resident Jewelette Estes.
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One of the victims was a junior at West Bloomfield High School, while the other two were enrolled in schools outside the district, as mentioned by school officials in a communication to families.
“In these challenging times, it’s vital that we unite as a community to support the grieving family and each other,” the letter conveyed.
