After a fire broke out at a family’s home in Baltimore, Maryland, the bodies of 6 children, including a 9-month-old boy, were recovered.
The blaze began at the 3-story home in northeast Baltimore just after midnight, with a mother and her nine young kids inside, confirmed Roman Clark of the Baltimore City Fire Department.
An 8-year-old girl assisted her Mom and 2 of her siblings (4 and 5-year-old boys) escape the house, fire officials said. The four were already out of the home by the time the fire department arrived at the scene.
The mother, the 4-year-old and the 5-year-old are in critical condition, while the 8-year old has is not seriously injured.
Six children burnt to death in the blaze: a 9-month-old boy, a 2-year-old boy, two 3-year-old twin girls, a 10-year-old girl, and an 11-year-old girl. Clark said that the six bodies have been recovered and everyone is now accounted for. Sadly, the remains of the 9-month-old boy was found in a crib on the first floor of the home.
The Father of the children was reportedly at work at the time of the fire.
Fire officials did not identify the woman, but Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings said that the fire involved one of his staff members, Katie Malone, and “her young family.”
“I am asking that our entire community pray for my staff member, Katie Malone, and her young family. Katie has worked as a Special Assistant in my Catonsville office for nearly 11 years where she dutifully serves my constituents in the areas of immigration, postal services, and the military, including Service Academy nominations,” Cummings said in a statement.
He added:
“My staff is a family and this unimaginable tragedy is shocking and heartbreaking to us all.” and that “Katie is going to be okay. … Three of her nine children, her husband thinks they will be okay, also,” Cummings said. “Our office will do every single thing in our power to embrace them in this very, very difficult time.”
Officials say that the home’s third floor collapsed into the second floor, making the search for the children difficult. The cause of the blaze is still being investigated, the fire department said.