Two Savannah girls remained hospitalized in critical condition Monday a day after being pulled from their burning Kensington Park home by firefighters.
The girls, ages 6 and 13, were rescued by firefighters just after the one-story brick house at 239 E. DeRenne Drive erupted in flames about 2 p.m. Sunday.
Medics rushed the children to Memorial University Medical Center where they remain in the pediatric intensive care unit, said Mark Keller, Savannah Fire & Emergency Services spokesman. A third child escaped the home before firefighters arrived.
The identities of the victims were not released.
When they arrived on scene, firefighters encountered heavy smoke and flames shooting from the roof of the house. The fire was so intense that on-scene commanders called for a second alarm to bring more resources and personnel to the scene to fight the blaze. The fast-moving flames consuming the entire rear of the house created difficult conditions in which to find the children, who were located in a front bedroom and removed from the home through a side window, Keller said.
The blaze caused extensive damage to the house. Savannah Fire investigators say evidence at the scene indicates the blaze originated in the clothes dryer. The flames extended up a wall and into the attic which enabled the fire to quickly engulf a large section of the house, Keller said.
Savannah Fire & Emergency Services reminds residents of the dangers associated with clothes dryers and urge all citizens to follow a few safety tips when operating dryers:
• Ensure the dryer’s lint filter is cleaned before and after each load of clothes.
• Make sure the air exhaust vent pipe is not restricted and the outdoor vent flap will open when the dryer is operating. Once a year, or more often if you notice that it is taking longer than normal for your clothes to dry, clean lint out of the vent pipe or have a dryer lint removal service do it for you.
• Keep dryers in good working order. Gas dryers should be inspected by a professional to make sure that the gas line and connection are intact and free of leaks.
• Keep the area around your dryer clear of things that can burn, like boxes, cleaning supplies and clothing, etc.