3 Children Dead In SF House Fire
by Breanna Fuss, Reporter
December 22, 2012 5:23 PM
Three children are dead and two others are injured following an early morning house fire in northern Sioux Falls.
Sioux Falls Fire Rescue was called to the home around 8 a.m. Saturday. When they arrived, the house was fully engulfed in flames.
"You got to realize they are the ones that are really trying to get into these situations to save people and sometimes they can't do it,” said Fire Chief Jim Sideras, Sioux Falls Fire Rescue.
At times we think firefighters are invincible, that they can do the impossible. But on Saturday morning, reality set in. Firefighters with Sioux Falls Fire Rescue had to step back from what they are trained to do.
"Because of the heavy damage, crews couldn't even enter the building. They tried to go in but there was so much fire inside the building they had to pull out,” said Sideras.
Fire Chief Jim Sideras said when they arrived at the home near Brookings and Main Avenue; it was fully engulfed in flames. Two adults were already out of the burning home. But they soon learned there were three children inside.
Sideras said the fire burned through the two-story home quick.
“So they were behind the power curve, with the amount of heat and fire they face, its very frustrating,” said Sideras.
The amount of heat from the fire was so intense not even their fire protective gear that withstand up to 500 degrees was useful.
"The temperatures get up so high that you physically can't enter the building. Because, you just cant get in. It's just too hot,” said Sideras.
And it left his crews with a feeling no firefighter should have.
"It's a pretty helpless feeling when you're here and you are trying to get in to save people,” said Sideras.
A feeling that weighed heavy on crews as they battled the blaze for more than two hours, knowing every second could mean life or death.
"It’s going to turn into a tragic event for us,” said Sideras.
It’s a solemn reminder that sometimes things are just out of our hands.
All three children were found in a room in the second story of the home. The two adults were taken to the hospital. The extents of their injuries are unknown at this time.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
