GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. –The Grand Rapids Fire Department says the cause of the fire is from children playing with ignition sources.
Eight people managed to escape the blazing fire that ripped through a Grand Rapids home early Wednesday morning.
Fire calls were sent out around 9:30 a.m. to the two-family home at 1018 Prospect Ave. near Delaware Street SE. The Grand Rapids Fire Department told FOX 17 News the names of the people who were inside the home at the time of incident:
Maria Reyesnevares, 31, received second degree burns to her arm, Idalia Sanchez, 28, was forced to jump from a second floor window, causing her to break her ankle, Allison Gamez, 10-months-old, has third degree burns to 42 percent of her body. It is believed the others who escaped the home are being treated for smoke related respiratory symptoms.
Officials told FOX 17 News that the 10-month-old baby girl’s prognosis is reported as good, mostly because her respiratory system was not involved in her injuries. Sanchez was babysitting at the home when it set fire. It is believed she dropped the baby out of a window to a neighbor.
This particular neighborhood is being targeted for a Residential Fire Safety Program that the GRFD was granted through FEMA. The program helps to identify neighborhoods at risk for fires through community outreach. The program will offer voluntary home inspections to home owners.
“We were indeed fortunate that we did not lose any lives today,” said Deputy Fire Chief Gerard Salatka.
The sitter suffered a burn to the arm. The others are thought to have suffered smoke inhalation.
(On scene reporting by Mitch Fick, FOX 17.)
