One dead, two injured in Germantown house fire

A Germantown toddler was killed in row house fire this afternoon.

The blaze broke out just after 2 p.m. in the 500 block of Herman Street near Awbury Arboretum.

When firefighters arrived, two teenagers and a child were still trapped in the burning home. Firefighters were able to bring them out. All three suffered burns and from smoke inhalation. They were rushed to Einstein Medical Center, where the toddler was pronounced dead.

Neighbors told NewsWorks that it seemed like it took the fire department a long time to respond. One unidentified man said the toddler was probably in the burning home for 15 minutes before he was pulled out.

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Responding to neighbors concerns Battalion Chief Mark Rounbehler said he didn’t know the specifics but then defended the department.

“I don’t have any information on that. I don’t know what time the fire was broadcast and what time we arrived, but we were here in a fairly quick response time,” said Rounbehler.

The teens are reported to be in stable condition. The cause of the fire has not been determined.

Bas Slabbers contributed to this report.

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