Two people are dead and two children are injured after a massive house fire broke out early Friday morning in Buffalo.
Around 4 a.m., crews were called to a fire at the corner of Humber and Litchfield. Heavy smoke could be seen pouring out of the multi-story home. Around 4:45 a.m., firefighters were pulled from the home as flames shot out of the roof.
Massive clouds of smoke at a home on the corner of Humber & Litchfield @WKBW ppl are trapped inside. pic.twitter.com/tMIV55yoA2
— Desiree Wiley (@DesireeWiley) February 19, 2016
Around 5:30 a.m., our news crews were asked to stop filming so crews could remove at least one body from the burning home. Just before 6 a.m., a second death was confirmed.
Demetrius Johnson, Sr. and 49-year-old Juan Montanez died in the fire. Montanez lived upstairs. Johnson lived in the downstairs apartment with his three children, 8-year-old Treasure, 3-year-old Demetrius Jr., 15-month-old Demerius and their mother, Tempest Thomas. This is a photo of Johnson and Thomas together, provided to 7 Eyewitness News by the victim's family:
Johnson rescued his family, carrying the 8-year-old girl to safety, before going back to try to rescue Montanez from an upstairs apartment and his 3-year-old son Demetrius Johnson, Jr.. Neither Johnson or Montanez survived. The two men were not related.
However, firefighters did rescue the 3-year-old who was taken to Women & Children's Hospital.
Say father who died was always there for a laugh & loved his kids more than anything, that's why he went back in building to save them @WKBW
— Matthew Bové (@Matt_Bove) February 19, 2016
Treasure suffered burns on 90 percent of her body. She is in a fight for her life and was flown to Shriners Hospital for Children in Cincinnati for treatment in their burn unit.
Her 3-year-old step-brother suffered smoke inhalation and was in the pediatric intensive care unit at Women and Children’s Hospital. On Sunday, he had shown enough improvement to be moved to a regular room.
The 15-month-old was okay after being treated and released.
Tempest Thomas, the children's mother, was uninjured. She was unable to accompany her 8-year-old daughter on the jet to Cincinnati due to space restrictions but she is now being provided free air transportation from Wings Flights of Hope - an local volunteer organization that helps families by providing compassion flights for medical situations.
Two firefighters were burned while fighting this fire and were taken to ECMC for treatment.
Commissioner Whitfield says home will be coming down at some point @WKBW pic.twitter.com/9h93dQlAhr
— Desiree Wiley (@DesireeWiley) February 19, 20
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