An early morning fire on Wednesday sent seven people including six children to the hospital in critical condition.
Fire fighters responded to the fire around 1:30 a.m. at the home on Arkwright Street North in the Payne-Phalen neighborhood. According to the Saint Paul Fire Department crews entered the house and remained on scene for just over two and a half hours. Medics performed CPR on several of the individuals that were pulled from the house.
Saint Paul Fire Chief Butch Inks, who spoke later Wednesday morning and then on WCCO Radio with Jason DeRusha, praised the response time as the first crew arrived in under four minutes of being dispatched.
"The response time under four minutes and having four or five apparatus there under five minutes is an incredible response time and the reason these seven individuals still have a chance right now."
There were working smoke detectors inside the home.
At least one firefighter was credited for pulling three children from the home, going into and out of the house three separate times. Another firefighter, according to Inks, pulled two different children out.
"We show up on scene at a house or dwelling where you can't see anything," Inks said. "This individual went in, quickly found one child, pulled that child out, went back in and found another child, pulled them out, and went in a third time and found another child and pulled them out."
All of the victims were found on the home's first floor where the fire is believed to have started. The fire is not believed to be suspicious at this time.
Regions Hospital released a statement on behalf of the family, identified as the Lor family, on Wednesday evening.
“Our family experienced a devastating fire Wednesday morning at our home. We want to thank the St. Paul Fire Department and other first responders for their selfless and brave efforts. Out of respect for our family’s privacy, no additional information will be provided at this time.”
63 firefighters responded to the scene.
