Nine people died Monday morning in a South Memphis house blaze that fire officials called the city’s deadliest fire in almost a century.
Memphis Fire Director Gina Sweat confirmed the deaths during a 9 a.m. press conference. She said one child pulled from the residence was still fighting for his life at LeBonheur Children’s Medical Center.
The names of the victims were not released during the briefing at the Memphis Fire Museum, pending notification of next-of-kin.
Fire officials said 10 people were in the home in the 1100 block of Severson Avenue, off Walker Avenue, when crews arrived at 1:22 a.m.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but Sweat said it appeared to start in the living room.