NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Nashville Fire Department Arson Investigators are looking for what sparked an early morning fire that killed an eight-month-old baby and injured five small children.
Nashville Fire Fighters and Medic Units responded to the Hickory Lake Apartments at 3940 Apache Trail just after 2:00 am for an apartment fire, on Sunday.
This first unit on scene found heavy smoke and flames coming from one of the units. Dispatch let arriving personnel know several people were trapped inside the burning apartment unit. Firefighters rescued one person from a third floor balcony.
People at the fire scene told NFD firefighters several children were inside the burning apartment. Firefighters immediately ran into the unit and searched for the children. They were able to rescue four of them.
An eight-month-old baby did not survive the fire and died on the scene.
NFD medics transported four children to Vanderbilt’s Children’s Hospital and later found another five-year-old child who was also taken to Vanderbilt.
The mothers, 25 and 23, were partying at a nightclub Saturday night when the deadly blaze broke out, police said. There was no babysitter present.
The mothers arrived home as firefighters were fighting the fire. It was unclear what charges they may face.
The American Red Cross responded to the scene and is working with the impacted residents who may need temporary housing and other resources.
