Investigation Launched Into Fire That Injured 2 Children: Stamford PD

STAMFORD, CT — The Stamford Police Department has launched an investigation into an apartment fire that injured and hospitalized two young children late Wednesday afternoon.

Lt. Jerry Junes of the SPD said Friday evening that the children — age 2 and 3 — have been released from Yale Hospital.

On Nov. 30 shortly after 4 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, fire officials said.

Firefighters were met with smoke from floor to ceiling after opening the front door to one of the apartment units.

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

Firefighters found the two children semiconscious on the floor of the second level bedroom, fire officials said.

The children were taken outside to safety where they received lifesaving emergency medical care from first responders.

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

Junes said investigators are looking at surveillance video and trying to pinpoint the mother's exact location and whether she was in or out of the apartment when the fire occurred. He said both parents are fully cooperative.

"Once we determine that, that will determine the direction of the rest of the investigation," Junes said, noting that the fire may have been burning for 20-30 minutes before firefighters arrived on scene.

Junes said the biggest concern for police is the welfare of the children. He said that they have pre-existing conditions.

"We're trying to see if there are some additional resources we can assist with providing to the family," he said.

On Wednesday night in a news release, SFD Deputy Fire Chief Eric Lorenz praised first responders for their actions.

"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.

Along with police, the Stamford Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire.