Officials urge fire safety after great-grandmother, 10-year-old boy die in Richmond house fire
VENN
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- After a Saturday morning house fire left a woman and her 10-year-old great-grandson dead, the Richmond Fire Department is encouraging fire safety to hopefully prevent further tragedies.
Just before 9 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13, crews with the Richmond Fire Department were called to the 1100 block of North 22nd Street to battle a house fire.
When they arrived, firefighters found a home that was burning heavily. They began efforts to put out the flames and to search the home for any occupants.
Three people were found inside the home. While a 56-year-old man was found alive, both a 70-year-old woman and a 10-year-old boy sadly died in the fire. A spokesperson for the Richmond Police Department told 8News that the boy was a student at a Henrico County elementary school and that the woman was his great-grandmother.
(Photo: KB)
(Photo: Ben Walls, 8News)
Following this tragedy, the Richmond Fire Department is sharing tips on how to prevent house fires, especially during the winter and holiday season.
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When a fire starts, you may have as little as two minutes to escape your home.
"It’s the precautions residents take beforehand that can make the difference between life and death," fire officials said in a Dec. 15 press release.
Precautions you can take include:
- Install and regularly test a smoke alarm, which can reduce the risk of house fire-related deaths by over 60%
- Test your carbon monoxide alarms at least once a month
- Stay in the kitchen and never leave your food unattended when cooking
- Choose flame-resistant or flame-retardant decorations for the holidays
- Keep lit candles away from decorations and other flammable objects
- Keep anything flammable at least 3 feet away from heating equipment like wood stoves, space heaters, fireplaces and furnaces
- Turn any portable heaters off when you leave a room or go to sleep
- Only have one heat-producing appliance plugged into the wall and turned on at a time
- Make sure all of your heating equipment is in good working order and have it professionally inspected annually
- Check your electrical cords and ensure they aren't running across doorways or under carpets
The Richmond Police Department can provide and install a smoke detector in your home free of charge. Those in need should contact Fire Prevention by calling 804-646-1526.
“Any loss of life is devastating, and this incident serves [as] a heartbreaking reminder of how quickly fires can turn deadly,” said Richmond Fire Chief Jeffrey Segal said in the release. “We encourage everyone to be mindful of fire safety and take proactive steps to reduce risks in their homes.”
It's important to note that, as of the time of reporting, the cause of Saturday's deadly house fire remains under investigation, per officials.
A GoFundMe campaign has been set up by neighbors to raise money for those impacted by said fire. While its initial goal was set at $6,000, as of the time of reporting, nearly $17,000 has been donated. The goal is now set at $20,000.
The surviving victim of the fire was taken to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries and, per the GoFundMe, has since been released.
