FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: MAYOR JOE WHALEN
Phone: 406.234.7901
12:15 p.m. AUGUST 15, 2008
I was de-briefed early this morning by Fire Chief Derrick Rodgers over the house fire on Roberts/Garland St. occurring shortly after 11 p.m. last night. It is still early in the investigation and I've yet to confirm the exact chronology of events through central dispatch, but it has been reported to me by Chief Rodgers that Miles City Fire & Rescue, Custer Co. Rural Volunteer Fire and MCPD were all dispatched to the scene.
The City units were first to arrive at the two-story residence where they found the home engulfed in flame and learned from a grandparent that two small children, a boy and a girl, were trapped upstairs. Firefighters fought flames all the way upstairs to where the children were located, then retrieved and delivered them to emergency responders outside of the house.
Both children were badly burned and not breathing. CPR was administered by emergency responders prior to transport by ambulance to ER at Holy Rosary Healthcare. I was informed this morning by Chief Rodgers that the little boy was unresponsive to CPR and perished en route. As of 2 a.m., the girl was revived with administered drugs but I'm unaware of her current status.
In addition to the gathering of a full chronology, a fire investigation is under way by the Fire Marshall as to the cause of the incident. One firefighter/EMT was injured during the rescue. Critical Incident Management Counseling has been made available to the emergency responders directly involved in the rescue and resuscitation.
Our community is heartbroken at the loss of innocent life but I could not be prouder of our emergency responders, from our cool-headed dispatcher to our brave police officers, firefighter/EMTs and rural volunteers, for their valiant rescue. At this stage in the investigation, it appears that everyone did exactly what they were trained to do to the best of their abilities.
[This message has been edited by Mayor (edited 8/15/2008).]