(Memphis) An overnight fire has claimed the life of a 5-year-old girl.
The girl was asleep inside a home on Riley Alley, with her parents and her 6-year-old brother, when the fire broke out just after midnight.
Firefighters say when they got there the parents and the boy were already outside, but the little girl was still inside.
Her body was discovered in a bedroom in the back of the house.
The grandfather of the 5-year-old girl says his son tried, but was not able to rescue her.
“I think my son has some burn marks on him from trying to get in there. He probably went in there a few times. You can see how the house is burnt up. He probably couldn’t get in there,” said David Isom
Fire investigators have not determined the cause or origin of the fire, but relatives say it started in the bedroom where the little girl was sleeping on a bunk bed.
Isom, says the family lost everything.
“They don’t have any clothes or anything. Anything could help this family right now,” said Isom.
Fire investigators say the home did not have a working smoke detector.
Saturday, firefighters were going door to door in that neighborhood installing free ones.
Any Memphis resident can apply for a free smoke detector by calling the Fire Museum of Memphis at (901) 636-5650.
If you would like to help this family call (901) 343-5894.
October is Fire Prevention Awareness Month.
