Raytown Fire Protection District
Press Release
Early Morning Fire Results in
Fatality
PIO Assigned: Matt Mace Fire Marshal
Follow up Info: Matt Mace
816-547-1931
Date: Location: 5420 Willow
Time of the call: 05:00
First Unit on the scene: Engine One
Number of Units: 3
Number of Firefighters: 14
Injuries: 1
Property Loss/Damage: $30,000
Contents Loss: Unknown
Property Saved: $38,000
Additional information:
This fire occurred at 04:57 in the living room of the residence, the
occupant Donald Sherrow 85, utilized a medical alert device to alert 911. The occupant stated his home was on fire and
he was unable to get out of the residence. At 05:01 Raytown Police were on the
scene and unable to gain entry due to the severity of the fire. AT 05:03 Engine One arrived on the scene ad
found heavy fire and smoke ventilating from the front of the structure.
Firefighters quickly extinguished the initial fire while additional
Firefighters made access inside the residence and began to search for the
occupant.
The occupant was located in an adjacent room and was unconscious. Once the occupant was removed from the
structure Raytown EMS attempted to resuscitate him and continued this effort
enroute to a local hospital where Donald Sherrow was pronounce dead.
Fire companies remained on scene
for several hours mopping up while, Fire Investigators were called to the scene
where the cause is officially listed as undetermined and the area or origin is
the living room in the area around a recliner.
The home did have working smoke
detectors, and these had been recently replace by family members.
The home was turned over to Code Enforcement due to the
homes weakened supporting structural members.
**END**
SMOKE DETECTORS SAVE LIVES
Remember to change your batteries
regularly
