Second fire in two days set by children

By The Associated Press

Saturday, June 9, 2007 11:40 PM EDT

NEW YORK - Investigators are probing the second tragic Brooklyn fire in two days that appears to have been set by children playing with smoking materials.
One blaze was started by children playing with matches. Another appeared to have been sparked by a child with a cigarette lighter. The result, in both cases, was horror.

The first fire, on Thursday, killed 10-month-old Melanie Webb as she lay in her stroller in the borough's Brownsville section.

The second, on Friday in Bedford-Stuyvesant, injured eight people, including 2-year-old Tavonne Green.

“They say Tavonne is burned from head to toe,” a relative, Joseph Story, reported. The boy's mother, India Green, was also badly burned in the fire. His 7-year-old brother and 8-year-old sister suffered less severe injuries, but were also hospitalized.

Firefighters said the children appeared to have been playing with matches when the fire broke out shortly before 6 a.m.

India Green and a 14-year-old neighbor rushed into the burning brownstone after hearing the children's cries. The teen was beaten back by smoke. Green kept trying, even after the flames set fire to her clothing. Firefighters pulled the entire family to safety.

Relatives said investigators believe theMelanie Webb's stroller was accidentally ignited by a sibling playing with a cigarette lighter.

Two other children in the home suffered smoke inhalation.

Police on Saturday said they had charged the baby's mother, Althea Stuger-Webb, 24, with endangering the welfare of a child. Investigators said she was running and errand when the fire broke out. The children were home alone.

AP-ES-06-09-07 1326EDT

The Citizens' Say

Post your comment - click here

There are No comments posted.

REGISTRATION IS FREE.
Registered users sign in here:
*Member ID:
*Password:
Remember login?
(requires cookies)
 
Unregistered users can register here:

Do not use usernames or passwords from your financial accounts!

Note: Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required!

*Create a Member ID:
*Choose a password:
*Re-enter password:
*E-mail Address:
*Year of Birth:
 

(children under 13 cannot register)

First Name:
Last Name:
Company:
Home Phone:
Business Phone:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip Code:
 
E-Citizen
E-Edition
Wheels Etc.
Find a vehicle
Hot Jobs
Find a Job
Homes Etc.
Find a Home
TV Week
Find a program
Search Classifieds
Find, Buy
Place a Classified Ad
Sell
Skaneateles Journal
The Journal
New! Best Bridal
Here comes the bride. . .
Liven Up the Holidays
Fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-laaaaaa
Logo HereNew! Off the Menu
Good Eatin'!
Newspaper Ads
See it again
CNY Boats Etc.
Achors aweigh!
New! School Project
A breakdown of the new school project.
Sections
Special Sections

Top Jobs

The Citizen Copyright ©2009
A division of Lee Publications, Inc.
25 Dill Street
Auburn, NY 13021

Contact Us

Add to My Yahoo!