Does anyone know of the fire last night that was on Roberts street? We heard that a child had passed away. I hope I heard wrong. My thoughts and prayers go out the parents if this is true.

I heard as you did that one child passed away and the other was sent to Salt Like City and is in critical condition.

My prayers are with the family.

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).]

How terribly sad.

My prayers and thoughts go out to both the families of the children and also the Firefighter/EMT

my thoughts and prayers are with both the family and the response crew!

The AP is reporting that the nine year old girl has died too, in the burn center in Salt Lake. My deepest sympathies to their families.

I just heard of the two deaths on the radio. How horrible for the family. My thoughts and prayers are with the families at this time. Just entirely too tragic.

Miles City children die in house fire
By The Associated Press

MILES CITY - Two Miles City children have died after a house fire.

The Custer County Rural Volunteer Fire Company says 6-year-old Conner Crouch died of smoke inhalation Thursday night and his 9-year-old sister, Tiffany Sprackley, died Friday morning at a burn center in Salt Lake City.

The children were in the home with their grandfather, Alan Wagner, when the fire was reported at 11 p.m. Thursday.

While firefighters fought the fire, three Miles City firefighters went into the house and brought the two children out. CPR was administered and the children were taken to Holy Rosary Health Care. Wagner escaped from the fire unharmed.

A state fire marshal will investigate the cause of the fire. Rural Fire Chief Michael Preller estimated the damage to the house at $250,000.

Thank You mayor for the information. Thank you to everyone else that responded to give us this dreadful news. I hope the firefighter is alright. And a big THANK YOU goes out to all our law enforcement and firefighters who go to work to keep us citizens safe.

Again my thoughts and prayers are with the families at this time of sorrow.

I know this family, and my heart broke when I found out what happened.

Is anybody doing a collection of money/items for the family? If not, I will gladly start one up. Come into Brandt Info Tech (911 Main Street), or call (406) 232-4000 and I'll make sure your help gets to the family.

Brian

[This message has been edited by Brian (edited 8/15/2008).]

It would work best if you could set up an account at a bank for them.

Will have to do that Monday since the banks are now closed. Thanks for the advice, Kacey. But non-monetary items can be dropped off at Brandt Info Tech, right?

[This message has been edited by Brian (edited 8/15/2008).]

Brian,

When you get the banking details worked out - please be sure to post the info. Thanks in advance,

One of the parents is employed by Holy Rosary. The facility's chaplin, Dorothy Zabrocki has already begun collecting donations for the family. It may be helpful to contact her (233-2600) since she may have some insight into any specific needs the family may have.

Bless you, forum posters, for the heart-felt communications. The Gazette article is filling up with garbage blogs about the wages of firefighters. I couldn't believe it. When a tragedy like this happens in our communities, it's a collective heartbreak that we need to share with those families. You're doing good.

My sincere condolences and best wishes - one just hates to hear about this kind of thing happening at all.

[This message has been edited by Shu (edited 8/15/2008).]

Just wanted to send an e-mail to my "fellow brothers" at MCFR(you guys are still my brothers even though I am no longer a MCFR Firefighter!)

Derrick, Tod, Dale, Kevin, Tim, Cameron, Brandon, tiny(petroff), Rich, Leonard, Brad and any others i missed; God Bless each and everyone of you! I am heartbroken about the outcome of lastnights Structure fire and praying for the family and you guys as well as the Firefighter who got hurt(could someone please find out for me) (who got injured?)
and to the CCRVFC-godspeed to all.
Thank You

Donavan

Awful. For everyone, but for the family, just incredibly tragic.

My heart goes out to the family first and foremost. I also just want to make a correction. The 9-year old girl's last name is spelled SPRACKLEN, not Sprackley. I've noticed this in every story and on the Billings news. I'm not sure if it's a big deal now, but it could be to the family and I think it's owed to them to make it right.
Kudos to the MCFD & CCRFD for their efforts in this tragedy. For those who read this & have children, hug them and don't take life for granted. I've heard of the fund set up @ HRH also and if you can donate, do it. This family has lost way too much in a matter of hours. My prayers go to Conner and Tiffany and their family.

From the Miles City Star: City firefighter Tim McGloughlin sustained an ankle injury, Rodgers said. It was the only reported injury to the responders

Deepest condolences to the family. Mindboggling to think of the pain of losing two children in one family.

Tragic, I don't know how a person every recovers from something of this magnitude. My sincere condolences to all that where forever touched by this sadness.

yes hug your children and tell them you love them. Then go and check your smoke alarms, make sure they are working. Put them up if you don't have them. Make sure the batteries are good. Then take your children and review what to do in case of a fire. Escape routes and where to meet. Even goes as far as to have a mock drill and practice getting out of windows, etc. Let's all try to learn from this tragedy and try to prevent another from happening. Please remember the motto: seat belts save lives and so do fire alarms.

My wife and I live two doors down from where the fire took place here on Roberts, the traffic this past two days has been amazing.
We used to see the children out playing from time to time, so precious and so innocent; this is a tragedy that we will never forget. We did not know the children or the family just remeber seeing their cute little faces out in the yard playing away, riding their bikes, and enjoying life as only a young child can.

We will keep the family in our thoughts and prayers at this tough time in your lives, please know that at this time of trial and tribulation that there are community members, and neighbors that care.

Matt & Cherrie Beyer

We change our batteries in the detectos when we set our clocks ahead and behind. Can someone tell me if the MCFD and CCRVFD still give out smoke detectors?

The family is still in my thoughts and prayers.

Miles City Fire Rescue does give out free smoke detectors and batteries. Either call the station at 234-2235 and ask for the officer in charge or just come directly to the station. MCFR is able to provide this service through grants and private donations from our wonderful community.

Our hearts and prayers go out to the family for their tragic loss!

Justin Tyler Russell
Branden Stevens