Four Fires In Escambia In Two Days; One Leads To Child Abuse Arrest

December 5, 2009

Escambia County has had four residential fires  in just two days, replacing four green bulbs with four red bulbs in the “Keep the Wreath Green” holiday safety campaign. One of the Friday fires resulted in a Pensacola woman being arrested for aggravated child abuse.

At 9:10 Friday morning, a fire was reported in the 700 block of Truman Avenue at Oakwood Terrace Apartments. When Ladder 12 from the Osceola Fire Station arrived on scene, they found smoke coming from an apartment on the second floor of the complex. At 9:25 a.m. the fire was reported out, with major damage to one bedroom in just one apartment and smoke damage to the rest of that unit.

A six month old child suffered minor burns after being left alone in the apartment. Officials with the fire department told Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies that power had been disconnected to the apartment on Thursday. According to the officials, several candles were used to illuminate a back bedroom when one fell from a windowsill onto the bed starting the fire. A six month old infant was lying on the bed and suffered burns to her scalp before being removed from the bed by an unidentified relative.

bramletcaroline.jpgThe infants mother, identified as Caroline Bramlet, 21, told firefighters that she had left the infant there while she was outside speaking to neighbors, according to Chris Welborn, spokesperson for the sheriff’s department.

The infant was transported to a local hospital by ambulance and treated for her injuries. Firefighters also located drug paraphernalia in the apartment and turned that evidence over to deputies. The Florida Department of Children and Families was contacted and took custody of the infant.

Bramlet was then arrested for aggravated child abuse and possession of drug paraphernalia. Upon taking her into custody deputies found marijuana on her person which resulted in the additional charge of possession of marijuana, less than 20 grams, Welborn said. Early Saturday morning, Bramlet remained in the jail on $2,000 bond.

An infant in the apartment received minor injuries and was transported by Escambia County Emergency Medical Services to Sacred Heart Hospital.

Three Other Escambia Fires

At 10:13 Friday morning, a fire was reported in the 900 block of Artesian Avenue. When Engine 3 from Brent Fire Station arrived on scene, they found heavy fire coming from two windows at the rear of the house. At 10:26 a.m. the fire was under control. There was major damage to one room and moderate damage throughout the rest of the house. There were no injuries reported as the house was unoccupied at the time of the fire.

At 11:44 Thursday night, a fire was reported in the 300 block of Vera Street. When firefighters from Ensley Fire Station arrived on scene, they found a working fire in a two-story house. At 12:19 a.m. the fire was out, with major damage to approximately half of the house and smoke and heat damage to the rest. There were no injuries reported.At 12:05 Thursday afternoon, a fire was reported in the 4900 block of Ravenswood Avenue. At 12:07 p.m., Engine 17 from West Pensacola arrived on scene and found a heavy fire on one side of the house. At 12:37 p.m. the fire was reported out, with major damage to half of the house and smoke damage to the rest. There were no injuries reported as the house was unoccupied at the time of the fire, but three adults and three children live in the home. The fire was caused by an electrical space heater that was left unattended too close to combustible materials.

Escambia County Fire-Rescue and the City of Pensacola Fire Department will continue the “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety campaign throughout the holiday season. This year, the fifth year of the campaign, five-foot wreaths will be on display at 22 different locations throughout the holiday season. These sites are the Old Escambia County Courthouse on Palafox Place, the Public Safety Building on W Street, all 18 primary county fire stations, and two fire stations within the City of Pensacola. Every time firefighters respond to a residential fire a green light bulb will be replaced with a red one to remind citizens of the dangers posed by holiday decorations.

Comments

One Response to “Four Fires In Escambia In Two Days; One Leads To Child Abuse Arrest”

  1. JUDY C. MASEK on December 5th, 2009 9:29 am

    thank God for that “unidentified relative” who must have had the presence of mind to act quickly….had ms bramlets infant perished in this preventable fire, what would the charges be then?

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News