THREE CHILDREN TRAPPED IN DUPLEX FIRE, ONE DIES
By Jessica R. Maas
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – A child died this morning as the result of a fire that erupted at a Monroe Street duplex at 2 a.m., according to Patricia Clarkson, Deputy Chief of the Kalamazoo Fire Dept.
The fire was called in at 2:10 a.m. and within five minutes three trucks from two different companies had responded. Upon arrival, seven of the 10 tenants were safely out of the building, but three children remained trapped on the second floor, according to Clarksen.
Clarksen named Samuel Walsh of Company 4 and James O’Brian of Company 2 as heroes for their efforts in saving the children when they tore a hole through the roof of the building and carried the children out.
The children were brought into Bronson Memorial Hospital at 3:12 a.m., according to hospital officials. Tiffany Blanchard, 3, died of smoke inhalation less than an hour later. Her brothers, 5-year-old Tory and 6-year-old Terry, were treated for minor injuries and released to their mother, 32-year-old Marie Blanchard, at 10 a.m.
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The cause of the fire is being investigated by Fire Marshal Sam Johnson but an accelerant is suspected, according to Clarksen. There were no smoke detectors found within the building, a violation of city code, and the total building is at a loss, with damages estimated at $250,000.
Kalamazoo Police Department Lt. Regina Santarpio announced that neighbors saw a man run from the building with a canister in his hand, and at the same time spotted a juvenile hanging around the scene.
Two suspects have been arrested in relation to the fire and are being held in the county jail, according to Santarpio. Vincent DeNofrio, 33, and a juvenile, 16, both of Mattawan, are expected to be arraigned tomorrow at 10 a.m.
Santarpio has stated that officials believe Marie Blanchard may have been the target of the arson by her estranged boyfriend. DeNofrio and Blanchard were known to have spent time together off and on.
“What I can say without hesitation is there is a nexus between DeNofrio, Marie Blanchard, and the fire,” said Santarpio.
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2 comments:
You covered all the information in the lede, but adding Patricia Clarksen's name made it sound a bit wordy to me. Good organization in the rest of the obit.
Great crime piece! I liked that you made the children the hook and main focal point of the piece. I agree that you could have taken out Patricia Clarkson's name, but it's really good otherwise.
Nice writing!
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