Fire investigators found no smoke detectors in the Ozarks home where five children were killed by fire last week.
"Our search of the home did not reveal any smoke detectors," Lebanon, Mo., Fire Chief Sam Schneider told The Star.
Siblings Ethan, 5; Maeanna, 2; and Benjamin Hunt, 1, were killed in their home. Also killed were their visiting first cousins: Andre, 1, and Patience Malleck, 6 months.
Andre and Patience's mother, Alee Malleck, brought the children to the home to babysit for her brother-in-law. Her brother-in-law, Kelley Hunt, is the father of the three siblings killed.
The tragedy has shaken the community of about 15,000 people. Schneider says that while the firefighters who worked the incident have all returned to work, their …show more content…
Lebanon Mayor Jared Carr has pledged to donate $5,000 of city funds and to match every dollar raised by the community to fund the purchase and inspection of smoke detectors throughout the municipality.
"Everyone has their own financial challenges and challenges in life, and we don't want the inability to purchase smoke detectors to be a hindrance," said City Administrator Mike Schumacher.
Donations can be made beginning June 26 at city hall.
"It's a low-cost solution that saves lives," Schumacher said, adding that anyone, regardless of whether they own or rent a property, can seek assistance for the devices through the city.
"Our fire department will go out and check them and provide a smoke detector if needed and put it up for them," he said.
Hunt, who recalled his children's personalities and relayed the shock he was feeling by their deaths to The Star one day after the fire, said he wouldn't be ready to speak about smoke detectors until after his children are laid to rest on Thursday.
Hunt rented the mobile home, according to county records and the mother of his children, Audrianna
"Our search of the home did not reveal any smoke detectors," Lebanon, Mo., Fire Chief Sam Schneider told The Star.
Siblings Ethan, 5; Maeanna, 2; and Benjamin Hunt, 1, were killed in their home. Also killed were their visiting first cousins: Andre, 1, and Patience Malleck, 6 months.
Andre and Patience's mother, Alee Malleck, brought the children to the home to babysit for her brother-in-law. Her brother-in-law, Kelley Hunt, is the father of the three siblings killed.
The tragedy has shaken the community of about 15,000 people. Schneider says that while the firefighters who worked the incident have all returned to work, their …show more content…
Lebanon Mayor Jared Carr has pledged to donate $5,000 of city funds and to match every dollar raised by the community to fund the purchase and inspection of smoke detectors throughout the municipality.
"Everyone has their own financial challenges and challenges in life, and we don't want the inability to purchase smoke detectors to be a hindrance," said City Administrator Mike Schumacher.
Donations can be made beginning June 26 at city hall.
"It's a low-cost solution that saves lives," Schumacher said, adding that anyone, regardless of whether they own or rent a property, can seek assistance for the devices through the city.
"Our fire department will go out and check them and provide a smoke detector if needed and put it up for them," he said.
Hunt, who recalled his children's personalities and relayed the shock he was feeling by their deaths to The Star one day after the fire, said he wouldn't be ready to speak about smoke detectors until after his children are laid to rest on Thursday.
Hunt rented the mobile home, according to county records and the mother of his children, Audrianna