A family member tells us a 2-year-old girl died in a morning fire.
State fire investigators are on the scene of a fire in Schenectady that left three people hospitalized.
The fire broke out just before 8:00 this morning at 235-237 McClellan. Police tell us neighbors tried to get inside to rescue the people who were trapped, but couldn't because of the smoke and flames. When firefighters arrived, they were able to knock down the fire and pull out the three people, a 65-year-old woman, and her two granddaughters. A family member says the 2-year-old girl was pronounced dead at Ellis Hospital. The 4-year-old girl was taken by helicopter to Westchester. The Grandmother is expected to recover.
Probe: Child set deadly fire at apartment Blaze claims second victim Friday as box of pancake mix ignited on stove
By PAUL NELSON, Staff writer First published in print: Saturday, July 10, 2010
SCHENECTADY -- A second victim died Friday from injuries suffered after a child intentionally set fire to a box of pancake mix, igniting a blaze that also killed his 2-year-old sister and left another sibling in critical condition, police and fire officials said Friday.
The child's grandmother, Sharlene Parker, 65, died Friday, an Ellis Hospital official said at press time. Public Safety Commissioner Wayne Bennett declined to identify which one of the three other children in the house was behind the deadly blaze at 235 McClellan St. on Wednesday morning.
But earlier in the week, officials said three other boys -- 3, 8 and 9 years old -- lived in the two-story residence with their mother, her boyfriend and their grandmother.
While everyone else was asleep in the house, the youngster started the gas stove to make breakfast but, for a reason not explained by authorities, placed the cardboard box over the flame and then carried the burning box into a bedroom.
The child put the flaming box on a bed, then discarded the burning bedding into a corner of the room and left the house as the flames spread, Fire Chief Robert Farstad said.
The child is younger than 13 and will not face a criminal charge because state law does not allow a child that young to be charged with a crime, Public Safety Commissioner Wayne Bennett said................>>>>................>>>>...............Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=949260#ixzz0tH5zhzUs
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