Mom, dad and 7-year-old son killed, 3 other children hospitalized after Key West apartment fire
KEY WEST — Two parents and their 7-year-old son were killed, and their remaining three children are hospitalized after their Florida Keys apartment went up in flames on Thursday night.
Officials from the city's fire department and police force with the aid of the Monroe County Sheriff's Office were called out to a reported structure fire at 1010 Emma St. in Key West, city officials said on Facebook.
Key West Fire Chief Alan Averette told CBS News Miami that five people were stuck inside when he crews arrived.
Though firefighters were able to put out the flames, two adults and a child died. Three other children were taken to Kendall Regional Hospital, the City of Key West said.
Officials identified the deceased as 41-year-old Jean Decimy, 38-year-old Evelyn Pierre and 7-year-old Dave Decimy. The three surviving children -- 14-year-old Jean Decimy, 5-year-olds Sanaika and Sadrac Decimay -- are fighting for their lives.
Officials told CBS News Miami that the smoke detectors were working but the family of six, originally from Haiti, who lived inside struggled to escape.
Plumes of smoke and massive flames caught many in the neighborhood by surprise when the fire burst around 7 p.m. on Thursday.
"I thought someone was fighting because I heard all this screaming and I came out the back door, and I just see blazing flames," said neighbor Alvina Covington.
Covington told CBS News Miami that she saw one of the boys jumping out of the window and his sister getting out of the house. Another neighbor said he saw one of the daughters run out, saying that her parents were still inside.
The Red Cross and the Key West Housing Authority are working on ensuring all eight families who were impacted by the fire get housing. The housing authority was at the scene on Friday afternoon to restore power to the building.
"We're looking to get them back now," said Randy Sterling, the executive director of the Key West Housing Authority. "Six of the seven families are back in today and one of the families in the next-door unit [are] still going to be displaced."
He said his agency will work on permanently relocating the eighth family.
The state fire marshal is leading the investigation into the fire, and fire officials believe the fire started in the downstairs area of the public housing building.
Averette explained to CBS News Miami the intensity of the fire the Decimy family was up against.
"Smoke inhalation is one of the major [factors]," he said. "The smoke gets you first and then the flames get you, and there was a lot of smoke in this fire."
The Florida Department of Children and Families are working to figure out what happens next now that the three surviving Decimy children have lost their parents.
