As firefighters masked up, they heard a whimper
FirefighterNation Staff
BELLEVILLE, Illinois — Firefighters at Belleville Fire Department Station 2 described the October rescue of a young girl in an apartment fire as a miracle during their retelling of the event to KSDK.
The firefighters received the alarm for Freedom Drive as an apartment bathroom on fire and people evacuating the building.
When they arrived a mother and two young children had already gotten out.
Belleville Fire Department Engineer Jeremy DeJournett told KSDK that they had reports that everyone was out of the building, but there was confusion when they arrived.
DeJournett and firefighter Matt Preston made entry to begin a search.
As they were masking up DeJournett heard a whimper.
In the smoke, the sound of the cry led him to a couch in the living. There he found the four-year old girl hiding face down underneath a pillow.
A camera on Firefighter Preston’s helmet captured the rescue.
The young girl was quickly rushed outside and to the care of EMS and transported to a hospital. She was later treated and released in good condition.
Officials said the fire was started by unattended candles left in the bathroom.
There were no working smoke detectors in the apartment.
DeJournett told KSDK, “they say a building isn’t unoccupied until we search it and declare it unoccupied.”
That was proven true at the fire on Freedom Drive.
