2 Children Rescued From Apartment Fire: Stamford FD

STAMFORD, CT — Thanks to the heroic actions of Stamford firefighters and paramedics, two young children were rescued from an apartment fire in Stamford late Wednesday afternoon, according to Stamford Fire Department Deputy Chief Eric Lorenz.

"Tonight, the brave actions of our first arriving firefighters resulted in the successful rescue of two children. Those actions coupled with immediate life-saving resuscitative efforts by our fire and EMS personnel ended this incident with a positive outcome," Lorenz said in a news release Wednesday night.

The children — a 2-year-old and a 3-year-old — received lifesaving emergency medical care from firefighters and paramedics on scene.

At 4:07 p.m., Stamford's 911 dispatch received a call from a neighbor who reported the smell of smoke and a fire alarm going off in an adjacent apartment unit in the 40 block of Custer Street, Lorenz said in a news release Wednesday night.

Engine 6 from the Glenbrook Fire House arrived at the scene first and reported "nothing showing" from the exterior of the apartment, but after opening the front door to one of the apartment units, firefighters were met with heavy smoke from floor to ceiling, Lorenz said.

Shortly after arriving on scene, firefighters were approached by a woman who was described as "hysterical," Lorenz said. The woman told firefighters she lived in the apartment, and that her children were still inside.

After entering the unit to search for the children and the fire, the crew from Engine 6 found a 2-year-old and 3-year-old who were semiconscious on the floor of the second level bedroom, Lorenz said. The children were then taken to safety.

A small fire located on the kitchen stove top was quickly extinguished, Lorenz noted, adding that there was no fire, smoke or water damage to adjacent units. No firefighters were injured during the call.

In total, 35 personnel responded to the fire. The SFD's Training Division, Mechanical Division and Stamford Police Department provided support at the scene.

The Stamford Fire Marshal’s Office and the Stamford Police Department are investigating the cause of the fire.