Passerby rescues 14-year-old from burning building at 7th and Pearl

(From the Joplin Fire Department)

At approximately 7:52 am, Joplin 911 dispatchers began receiving multiple 911 calls of a residential structure fire located at 7th and Pearl Ave. 

Initial reports also indicated that a 14-year-old boy had crawled out a second floor window and was standing on the roof of the balcony needing rescued. 

Prior to our arrival a passerby that had a ladder in their vehicle stopped and rescued the 14-year-old. 

JFD arrived within 3 minutes of the call and found heavy fire involvement at the back of the house with dark black smoke pushing out the front. Personnel aggressively attacked the fire and searched both levels of the house for occupants. 

The fire was controlled within 15 minutes of arrival and all occupants were determined to be out of the structure. One occupant was transported to a local hospital for smoke inhalation, no other injuries to civilians or firefighters occurred.

The Joplin Fire Marshal’s office investigated the cause and origin of the fire and determined the fire began in the kitchen of the home near the stove and accidental causes could not be ruled out.

The Joplin Fire Department would like to thank the citizen that stopped to assist the 14 year old off the roof prior to our arrival. 

JFD was assisted by METS ambulance and the Joplin Police Department.

This is the 15th structure fire the Joplin Fire Department has responded to in the past two weeks