Baby badly hurt in Monroe fire
Published 11:20 pm Monday, May 18, 2009
MONROE — The overloaded power cord was covered with belongings. Flammable belongings. Nearby, a baby girl less than 2 months old slept.
Fire investigators believe the electrical cord overheated, sparking a fire Monday morning. The girl was severely burned and was clinging to life Monday afternoon at a Seattle trauma center, officials said.
“It’s really an unfortunate situation,” Monroe Fire District 3 spokeswoman Richelle Risdon said. “We feel very bad for the family and the baby.”
A neighbor reported the fire just before 9 a.m. in the 17100 block of Tester Road just south of Monroe High School, she said.
Before help could arrive, people in the house took the baby to Valley General Hospital. She later was rushed to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
The infant was in critical condition in the hospital’s intensive care unit late Monday, a spokeswoman said.
“It’s a difficult situation,” Risdon said. “Something like this could have been prevented, especially when it involves such a young infant.”
Fire officials always are working to educate people about the dangers of overloaded outlets.
In 2006, about 52,500 home fires in the U.S. involved some type of electrical failure or malfunction, according to national statistics. The fires resulted in 340 deaths, 1,400 injuries and about $1.5 million in damage.
Avoid plugging several appliance cords into the same electrical socket, Snohomish County SafeKIDS spokeswoman Kristen Thorstenson said. Replace old or frayed electrical wires and appliance cords, and keep all cords clear of combustibles.
Mike Makela, an investigator with the Snohomish County Fire Marshal’s Office, said the fire started near the bed where the baby was sleeping. He estimated the fire destroyed about $20,000 worth of belongings and likely left the home uninhabitable.
Firefighters quickly knocked down the blaze and no one else was hurt.
Snohomish County Red Cross officials said they were providing temporary assistance for the displaced family of seven, which includes four adults and three children.
It’s always hard when a young child is hurt, Risdon said.
“We hope people will read this and take a look at their own home,” Risdon said.
