Woman, infant saved from apartment fire

By Rachel Delinski
Herald Publisher/Editor

A woman and her infant child were rescued Monday after being trapped in their burning apartment building in Altamonte Springs.
The Seminole County Fire Department responded to the Charter Pointe Apartments around 10:15 p.m. after receiving a 911 call about a fire in a closet and residents being trapped in their apartment.
A spokesperson for the department said there was heavy smoke and flames were visible from the first and second floor balconies. When firefighters arrived, there were two residents trapped on the second floor.
In heavy smoke conditions, firefighters climbed to the second floor and assisted the woman and her infant to safety.
The woman, infant, an Altamonte Springs police officer and a Seminole County firefighter were all taken to the hospital for treatment. The Altamonte Springs Building and Life Safety Department subsequently investigated the fire.
This is the second fire in Seminole County this week where family members had to be rescued from their homes. On April 25 around 11:25 p.m. a home was destroyed by fire in Longwood and a family of four, along with their dog, had to be rescued.
The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office said the woman in that home was a 12-year veteran of the force and a neighbor had to break her front windows to save the woman.
Once firefighters arrived they rescued the husband and the family’s dog led firefighters to the children’s room. All four family members were taken to the hospital and the dog was treated at the Seminole Sheriff’s veterinary clinic.
Interim Seminole County Fire Chief Mark Oakes said, “This is the second fire within a week that Seminole County Fire Department arrived on scene with reports of occupants trapped in their homes. I commend the remarkable job of our firefighters in the hazardous conditions they faced on these two scenes. This also serves as a good reminder to our residents to have a fire escape plan for your family.”