The tragic event of a young boy's death in an Altamonte Springs apartment fire earlier this year has taken a new turn as his family has filed a lawsuit against the apartment complex. The lawsuit, which centers on the alleged absence of working smoke alarms that could have warned the family of the danger, follows the loss of 11-year-old Ramon Thomas in a fire that occurred on April 3 at Goldelm at Charter Pointe. According to the WFTV report, the fire broke out around 1:30 a.m.
In an unfortunate twist of fate, the Thomas siblings managed to escape with smoke inhalation but were left to grapple with the devastating loss of their brother. "The 17-year-old quickly gathered the siblings and they left the apartment. In the chaotic scene, they thought Ramon was following them but he was asleep in another bedroom. At that point, flames had engulfed the apartment building making it impossible for law enforcement to get back in and rescue the boy," as reported by ClickOrlando.
The Seminole County Fire Department was noted to have taken action against the blaze, which impacted a dozen units as more than 70 firefighters tackled the inferno. A smoke alarm program exists within the county, offering free alarms installed by a firefighter to residents, pointing towards preventative measures that could have been taken. The significant loss in this case has prompted the lawsuit which asserts negligence on the part of the apartment complex in ensuring functional smoke alarms.
Represented by the Osborne & Francis Law Firm, the family will make a public statement regarding the lawsuit. A press conference has been scheduled for Tuesday at 11 a.m., which will be covered by WFTV.
