3 young children killed in Atlanta apartment fire identified
3 children who died in apartment fire identified
We now know the names of the three children killed after a fire ignited inside their apartment in southwest Atlanta. It's a story we first brought to you as breaking news Wednesday and the details continue to leave many heartbroken across the city. The mayor and fire investigators say the fire appeared to have started from electrical issues.
ATLANTA - Three very young children who were rushed to Grady Memorial Hospital after a fire broke out at Country Oaks Apartments in Atlanta have tragically died from their injuries.
The backstory:
Atlanta Fire and Rescue confirmed the three children suffered from smoke inhalation.
First Deputy Fire Chief James McLemore said EMS started CPR immediately, but the children died at the hospital.
"My heart goes out to this family that has just lost a three-year-old, a two-year-old and a 10-month-old right here in our community, and I'm sure the neighbors, family members and all involved in this are just devastated," said Mayor Andre Dickens. "So are also our Fire Rescue Department and Grady personnel and others that came to render aid in this emergency situation."
Two adults were also evaluated after the fire.
The damage was contained to one second-story apartment in the three-story complex on Fairburn Road SW, according to officials. From there, the fire crew was able to put it out.
3 young children dead after apartment fire
An apartment fire off Fairburn Road SW sent three children to the hospital with smoke inhalation. That one infant and two toddlers did not survive.
Children identified
What we know:
The children who died were identified by the Fulton County Medical Examiner late Thursday morning.
They were:
- Jhacari White, a 4-year-old male
- Xyla White, a 1-year-old female
- Xhalia White, a 9-month-old female
The medical examiner emphasized that there is not a definitive cause of death at this time since autopsies have not yet been performed.
What we don't know:
FOX 5 Atlanta is still working to learn what caused the fire, but said it appeared electrical in nature.
Woman helped get children out
What they're saying:
A woman who lives in the complex is sharing her story of helping the children’s father. "I was just walking past and heard a loud noise, and it was the father, and he was screaming, 'Call 911, call 911.' He was trying to get the kids out, and he asked me to help," said Ashanti Ray, who helped pull the children out of the fire.
Ray said she did not hesitate. "There was smoke everywhere and fire coming out of the building," she said.
She rushed into the smoke-filled apartment. "He had already gotten them halfway out of the room," she said.
The children were then rushed to the hospital.
Ray said she has been in shock still processing this horrible loss. "I was just thinking about the kids, just trying to get the kids," she said.
What you can do:
A GoFundMe has been set up to support mother Jahda White.
As of Tuesday morning, the GoFundMe has raised more than 38,000 of its $40,000 goal.
Previous fire at Country Oaks Apartments in Atlanta
Dig deeper:
FOX 5 Atlanta reported on a fire at this same apartment complex in July. Back then, 36 residents had been displaced.
FOX 5 asked the chief what he would tell residents about the safety of the complex and if he could reassure them that something tragic like this wouldn't happen again.
"So, what we want them to know is that this is an urgent matter on our behalf, and the Fire Marshal and his team will be out here to check and inspect and make sure that it is up to compliance," McLemore said. He also added that his crews checked to make sure all fire hydrants on the property were in proper working order.
The Source: Atlanta Fire and Rescue, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and First Deputy Chief James McLemore provided the details included in this article. FOX 5 Atlanta reporter Brittany Edney contributed to this report from the scene in Atlanta.