Child critically injured in Suitland fire

DISTRICT HEIGHTS, Md. – Prince George’s County fire officials say a 2-year-old girl is in critical condition following an early-morning townhouse fire in District Heights.

Officials say firefighters were called to the blaze on Hil-Mar Drive about 1:45 a.m. Friday and arrived to find heavy fire showing from the first floor of the home. Authorities say three adults and one child escaped the home, but that they were unable to immediately rescue the 2-year-old from a second-floor bedroom.

Firefighters used ladders to remove the girl from the home, and CPR was administered to her before she was taken to a hospital.

“Unfortunately, she had no pulse and was not breathing” when she was removed from the home, Prince George’s County Fire Department spokesman Mark Brady says.

Brady says the girl has since regained a pulse, but remains in critical condition.

Officials say a 9-year-old child was also taken to a hospital for evaluation of smoke inhalation injuries, and a firefighter suffered minor injuries.

Brady says it appears the fire began in the kitchen area of the home, although the official cause is under investigation.

WTOP’s Adam Tuss contributed to this report. Follow Adam and WTOP on Twitter.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press and WTOP. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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