7 dead in Memphis house fire, including 5 kids

[Jenefer3]

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Five children, a teenager and an adult were killed in a fire that engulfed a Memphis home early Saturday, fire officials said.

Memphis Fire Department Lt. Keith Staples said firefighters don't yet know the exact ages or genders of the victims. Also, two teens and an 11-year-old boy sent to hospitals with burns and were in stable condition, he said. Firefighters aren't sure how the three were able to escape the house, he said.

The cause of the fire that broke out about 5:30 a.m. is not yet known.

Firefighters were continuing to investigate the scene in the low-income Orange Mound neighborhood of the city.

The top portion of the home was wood-framed and most heavily damaged. The bottom is brick.

Staples said the bodies were all found in the same area on the first floor at the rear of the house. The bodies all appeared to be seriously burned.

[freeby4me]

Staples said the bodies were all found in the same area on the first floor at the rear of the house. The bodies all appeared to be seriously burned.

something sounds seriously wrong with that sentence. I hope they were remodeling upstairs and thats why they were all downstairs. I hate to think the worst. :( so sad.

[dv8grl]

When I hear MEMPHIS., I know exactly what to think.
HORRIBLE HORRIBLE things!
Just like that poor family that all got killed a few months ago in Mephis by the brother who killed them all over a jacket.

May those children rest-in-peace! :pray

[tngirl]

Links to the story from the local news.

EyeWitness News (http://www.myeyewitnessnews.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=6f71f026-c7a2-4bff-ae80-f2bd099d7b67&rss=59)

The Commercial Appeal (http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/aug/16/least-7-dead-3-injured-orange-mound-house-fire/?partner=yahoo_headlines)

News Channel 3 (http://www.wreg.com/global/story.asp?s=8851574)

Action News 5 (http://www.wmctv.com/global/story.asp?s=8851492)

[tngirl]

I sounds to me to be a tragic accident and nothing foul afoot. There was only one adult and it may be that they headed toward the back to get out and unfortunately went the "wrong" way.

The Lester Street murders was the case of a crazy brother that got out of prison after almost 15 yrs and came home with a grudge toward his family and a psychological problem to top it all off. I just happened to watch the First 48 Hours yesterday with this on there.

[tngirl]

Six Children and a Mother Die in House Fire, Who Were They?

(Memphis 8/16/2008) (http://www.wreg.com/Global/story.asp?S=8852469)Tears and disbelief as family members look at what's left of Melissa Poole's Orange Mound home.

"It's a hard pill to swallow, just one of your family members passed and a lot at that." says Alicia Bradley, a cousin.

Stunned family gather a few blocks away looking at pictures that conjure up memories.

Dead are 9 year old Diamond, 18 year old Deon, 7 year old Dejanique, mother Melissa and 5 year old DaShaun, who was set to start Hanley Elementary kindergarten on Monday.

"They some beautiful loving kids. Smart, doing well in school. Glad school was starting so they can get back you know. They truly gonna be missed." says their uncle, Stanley Crawford.

Crawford lives in the apartment below the family. He was home when the fire broke out, but couldn't get to the victims.

We are told 18 year old Deon actually ran back inside the burning home to save others and he too died.

Four year old Arianna Poole and her 1 year old brother were just visiting their aunt. They perished in the fire.

The ray of hope in the tragedy are the lives spared.

There is Darius Poole, a 16 year old who's a football player at Melrose High. Family says he wants to go to the NFL.

Eleven year old Deandra is just starting middle school.

But the mother who held them all together died with the other kids.
"She was a good woman, had eight kids and she cherished them eight kids. She was a loving mother." says Bradley.

We are told 38 year old Melissa Poole had been complaining about wiring problems in the home for months.

Fire officials have not said that is what caused the fire.

We talked to the owner of the building and he says he was not aware of any electrical problems at the home and hadn't gotten a call there in the last six months when he replaced some blown fuses.

He says he is sorry people died, but can't think of anything else he could have done.

[PrincessArky]

Oh God have sad :(