Firefighters could not save Jamison and Julian Keiser after fierce flames took over their home in Defiance, Missouri, at around 7.45am on Friday
Two young children who tragically lost their lives in a house fire in Missouri, US, have been named for the first time.
Firefighters were unable to save Jamison and Julian Keiser, both under the age of 10, from the fierce flames that engulfed their home on Friday morning.
Three adults also inside the property managed to escape, with one suffering minor injuries. A local resident, Sharon Oberlag, said: “They tried getting the boys and they couldn’t, it’s just devastating.”
A fundraiser has been set up in memory of the children following the tragic incident. The family, described as one of the “cornerstone families” of the small town, not only have to pay for two funerals but also lost their house and all their possessions.
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The cause of the deadly explosion is still a mystery, but both police and paramedics were on the scene. The St. Charles Ambulance District said that due to the intensity of the fire, they couldn’t immediately enter the building. When firefighters arrived, they found two children trapped inside but the fire was too fierce for them to be rescued.
One adult who managed to escape was treated at the scene. A St. Charles County officer, one of the first on the scene, also suffered minor injuries.
In other news, a huge explosion at a hotel in Fort Worth, Texas, has injured up to 11 people, with one in a critical condition and two seriously hurt. Authorities are searching for survivors and sifting through the rubble. The Fort Worth Fire Department confirmed that one person was missing for two hours. CBS News Texas reported that MedStar, a local health company, had received up to 11 patients, three of whom are in a critical or serious condition.
The nature and extent of the injuries are not yet known, but it’s rumoured to have been a gas explosion. The cause of the devastating blast is also unknown.
The Fort Worth Fire Department posted on social media to warn people, saying: “The #FWFD (along with multiple other emergency responders) is on scene of a major incident in downtown #FortWorth. PLEASE avoid this area. We will provide updated information as it becomes available. Follow our #FWDowntownAlert for updated details moving forward.”
Meanwhile, the police also shared a message: “We are currently working a Major Incident. Please avoid the downtown area. PIOs are on the scene. We will share more details as soon as we can confirm more information.”
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