Teen Boy With Autism Dies After Row Home Fire In Logan
By Tim Jimenez and Diana Rocco
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – An autistic 14-year-old boy died after being pulled out of a row home fire in the Logan section late Monday afternoon.
The fire broke out at a home around 5 p.m. on the 4800 block of N. 9th Street, and quickly spread to four row homes.
Fourteen-year-old Na'eem Demby was trapped on the second floor. Family friends tell CBS 3 he has severe autism.
"The whole front of the house was in flames and so I ran around the back, try to get in the kitchen through the back door. There was too much smoke," uncle Dewey Demby said.
Firefighters arrived within minutes and saved Na'eem from a second floor bedroom.
"They found heavy fire conditions. They made a very aggressive attack and they did rescue that person," Philadelphia Fire Captain Clifford Gilliam said.
The teen was rushed to Albert Einstein Medical Center.
A relative then told reporters, "All we can do is pray for him." Word later came that he died at the hospital.
"We know Na'eem is in a better place now. So we're trying our best to hold up, you know," his uncle said.
The American Red Cross was on hand to help seven people, including an infant, who were displaced.
Investigators are looking into what caused the fire.
