Boy hurt helping family escape Huber Heights fire

ajc.com

Credit: Teesha McClam/Staff

Credit: Teesha McClam/Staff

A child suffered smoke inhalation while helping family members escape a quick moving house fire Tuesday night.

"He was the first one in the house to notify the family that there was something wrong," Huber Heights Fire Chief Mark Ashworth said.

The boy, whose age was not disclosed, was treated for "minor respiratory irritation" from the fire in the 7800 block of Harshmanville Road, Ashworth said.

Crews were dispatched just before 10 p.m. on a report of fire on the first floor of a tri-level dwelling.

The boy, his sister, their mother and several pets were all out of the house when crews arrived, Ashworth said.

The boy, "with the assistance of his sister, was able to get mom and the pets out of the house," the chief said.

While there was no reason to suspect the fire was suspicious, an investigator was dispatched to determine the cause, Ashworth said.

"This fire was very fast moving. It started in a front room and quickly spread to the outside and to the interior of the house," he said, noting there was smoke damage throughout the residence.

He did not offer a dollar estimate of the damage.

Huber Heights crews were assisted by neighboring fire departments, Ashworth said.

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