NORTH ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MO (KTVI-FOX2now.com) -
Three children, described as "full of life" and fond of playing outdoors died early Saturday morning when fire swept through their father's North St. Louis County apartment on Hobbits Glen Court. St. Louis County police are investigating the blaze which they believe started in the kitchen. Firefighters said Saturday the batteries in the apartment's smoke alarms were dead.
Fire fighters from Metro North Fire tried to rescue the youngsters but were unable to reach them in time. Fire Captain Rich Hilligardt said he sent extra manpower into the apartment in hopes of finding the children while other responders were putting out the flames. "There was quite a bit of fire in the kitchen area, living room, and hallway," Hilligardt explained. "We had to get past the fire to get to the children," he said.
The fact the firefighters were unable to save the youngsters is difficult for Hilligardt to accept. "It's tough. It's something you never forget," he said with a sigh. Neighbor and Moline Acres police officer Derrick Sutton said " It's been a very depressing moment for everybody in the complex today."
The children's father, Darryl Mitchell, age 25 and his mother, Nina Carry, age 42 were both burned as they tried to rescue the youngsters. They got out of the building on their own. The children died at the scene including Darryl Mitchell, age 6; Devonte Mitchell, soon to be age 5 and 21 month old C-Mya died at the scene.
They were staying with their father as part of a shared custody agreement between the dad and their mother.
Five fire departments responded to fight the fire. The alarm came at 4 A.M. The fire was contained to the one unit. An apartment below the fire scene had water damage. Hilligardt described the fire as so hot and the smoke so dense his lead firefighter had to back out and get a water hose before going back in to look for the children.
The fire captain said the batteries in the smoke alarms were tested and found to be dead. Had they been working he said, " that probably would have woke them up in time to get out."
Fire fighters from Metro North Fire tried to rescue the youngsters but were unable to reach them in time. Fire Captain Rich Hilligardt said he sent extra manpower into the apartment in hopes of finding the children while other responders were putting out the flames. "There was quite a bit of fire in the kitchen area, living room, and hallway," Hilligardt explained. "We had to get past the fire to get to the children," he said.
The fact the firefighters were unable to save the youngsters is difficult for Hilligardt to accept. "It's tough. It's something you never forget," he said with a sigh. Neighbor and Moline Acres police officer Derrick Sutton said " It's been a very depressing moment for everybody in the complex today."
The children's father, Darryl Mitchell, age 25 and his mother, Nina Carry, age 42 were both burned as they tried to rescue the youngsters. They got out of the building on their own. The children died at the scene including Darryl Mitchell, age 6; Devonte Mitchell, soon to be age 5 and 21 month old C-Mya died at the scene.
They were staying with their father as part of a shared custody agreement between the dad and their mother.
Five fire departments responded to fight the fire. The alarm came at 4 A.M. The fire was contained to the one unit. An apartment below the fire scene had water damage. Hilligardt described the fire as so hot and the smoke so dense his lead firefighter had to back out and get a water hose before going back in to look for the children.
The fire captain said the batteries in the smoke alarms were tested and found to be dead. Had they been working he said, " that probably would have woke them up in time to get out."
