Two Children Critically Injured In Garner Home Fire

As of the night of August 22, two children were in critical condition from the personal injuries they suffered in a fire at their home in Garner at approximately 1:30 a.m. that same day.

On the day of the incident, 3-year-old Michael Smith and 2-year-old Jasmine Smith were in an upstairs bedroom in their home on Timber Driver when firefighters responded to a 911 call from one of their neighbors shortly after 1:30 a.m., according to Capt. Matt Poole of the Garner Fire and Rescue Department.

Poole was one of three Garner firefighters who helped rescue the unconscious children.

Poole said the fire blocked 29-year-old Thomas E. Smith, the children’s father, from getting upstairs to the children. He did not suffer any injuries in the fire.

The children received transport to the Jaycee Burn Center at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill, where they were being treated later that evening. According to UNC Hospitals spokesman Clinton Colmenares, the children suffered burns to 20 percent of their bodies.

According to Garner Police Lt. Chris Hagwood, Wake County fire officials ruled the fire to be accidental and said it started in the kitchen.