MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Three children and four adults barely escaped a home explosion overnight in North Memphis.
According to officials, the blast occurred inside a home on Stovall Avenue around 10 p.m. Thursday It’s not clear what caused the explosion but the front windows were shattered and parts of the railing were blown off.
When first responders arrived they found the seven victims had already escaped.
Neighbor Gloria Fulton-Singlton said her neighbors were new to the area. Early Friday morning she jumped into action when one of the four adults caught in the explosion stumbled into her front yard.
“I was shocked as well, and then I got him some water.”
She said she tried to comfort him until help could arrive. While waiting she said there was a cry from one of the three children that left her reaching out to the Lord in prayer.
“I was hurt to see the babies. There was nothing I could do she was crying for her mom as her mom was laying in the street. She was in bad shape.”
Another neighbor and mother of 10 said the aftermath was somethng she will never forget.
“One of my neighbors knocked on my door, because he came over and jumped the gates to help one of the little girls because her arm and stuff was peeling.”
Lt. Wayne Cooke with the Memphis Fire Department said the victims had second- and third-degree burns to 60 to 70 percent of their bodies. The children were taken to LeBonheur Children’s Hospital while the adults were rushed to the Regional Medical Center.
