3 Children Killed In Detroit-Area House Fire Where There Were No Working Smoke Alarms

Three children who were transported to hospitals after a fire engulfed their home in a Detroit suburb Sunday night have died of their injuries, and fire officials are warning residents to ensure their smoke alarms are working.

The West Bloomfield Fire Department responded to a report of a fire at a two-story house on the 5500 block of Pembury Lane at around 8 p.m. Sunday. According to the Detroit Free Press, Fire Marshal Byron Turnquist said one of the three children trapped inside called 911 to report the fire, and said they couldn’t get out.

Firefighters arrived and forced their way into the home, finding two children on the first floor, where the fire was, and one child on the second floor, which was filled with smoke.

A girl, 16, and two boys, ages 15 and 12, were transported to local hospitals, where they later died, officials said.

Turnquist said there were no working smoke alarms in the home.

“Please take a few moments and test your smoke alarms,” the fire department said in a statement. “Smoke alarms should be installed on every level of your home and in each bedroom. It is also a good idea to plan your escape. Make sure that everyone knows two ways out.”

The cause of the fire is under investigation.