JOINER, AR - Fire officials are investigating a fire that killed two Joiner, Arkansas boys and destroyed their home on Monday, March 24, 2008.
Firefighters were still on the scene of the fire Tuesday morning, trying to figure out the cause. The home was a small, brick duplex and both units were destroyed.
Eyewitness News Everywhere spoke with the boys' grandfather, who identified the kids as 7 year-old DaShawn Young and 2 year-old Eric Johnson. The brothers and their mother, Crystal Young, were asleep inside their home when their fire began. Crystal Young is at the Med, recovering in the hospital's burn center; she says she woke up because she could feel the heat, then saw the fire. She says she tried to get to the boys' room, but the flames in the hallway were too intense. She says she ran out of the house and tried to break a window, and as she tried to climb through, she cut herself badly. She says she could hear her son, Eric, calling out to her for help. Neighbors say they could see Young trying to rescue her sons, but the fire was spreading too quickly.
A volunteer firefighter who lives in the neighborhood says by the time fire crews arrived on the scene, there was little hope of saving the children. He said he has been a firefighter for 21 years, but nothing could prepare him for grief he is feeling at this time.
The boys' grandfather told Eyewitness News Everywhere that his daughter was preparing to move out of that home because of several issues. He said she has had problems with faulty outlets, windows not being up to code, electrical and wiring problems, plus more. The landlord, Kevin Love, who is also the Mayor of Joiner, denied any problems with the home and said he was never notified of any issues. He said he was only told about a few problems in the nine months Young has lived in the home, such as problems with the thermostat and a leaky roof. He said he made those repairs, but was never told about any major safety issues.
Crystal Young is a student at the University of Memphis, getting a degree in pharmacy. Eyewitness News Everywhere will be speaking to Crystal Young's family. You can see what they have to say on Eyewitness News Everywhere at 5:00 on Tuesday, March 25, 2008.
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