A 2-year-old child was killed in a house fire early Wednesday morning in south St. Louis, with flames breaking out around 4 a.m. on Pennsylvania Avenue near Haven Street in the city's Carondelet neighborhood. Firefighters rushed to the scene, where first responders were seen treating several people, including a child, and at least one person was taken away by ambulance.
According to FOX 2, crime scene tape was placed around the home as crews worked the scene, though a firefighter told the outlet he could not comment on whether the area had been designated a crime scene. Police advised the public to avoid the area while the response continued. A witness named Brian Howe told the station he observed first responders treating several people at the scene.
Details on Cause and Injuries Remain Unclear
As of Wednesday morning, no information had been released about what caused the fire or about the extent of injuries suffered by those who were treated at the scene. The station described the story as developing, with updates expected as more details become available. An investigation into the fire remained ongoing, and further specifics were not immediately available.
This is not the first time a serious fire has struck the Carondelet neighborhood. In December 2019, a house fire in the area killed two children and left a man critically injured, according to a report from stltoday.com. A separate fire in December 2020 destroyed another Carondelet home and displaced six people, including a family of four, per a report from the same outlet. The available evidence does not establish any connection between those earlier incidents and Wednesday's fire.
What Happens Next
Fire investigators have not yet released a cause for Wednesday's blaze, and officials have not said whether any additional details about injuries or the condition of those transported will be released. Fox 2 has indicated it will continue to update the story as more information becomes available.
