PORTSMOUTH, Va. — A child died following an apartment fire Saturday afternoon.
Portsmouth Fire and Rescue responded to the fire around 2:20 p.m. in the 2700 Block of High Street.
Crews arrived and found the first floor of the apartment consumed by fire, and it was spreading quickly to the second floor.
Firefighters were told a child was trapped on the second floor and attempted to search and rescue the child. Portsmouth Fire said crews were briefly forced to retreat, but they were eventually able to get the fire under control and locate the child on the second floor.
However, the child did not survive due to heavy smoke and heat, according to the department. We do not know yet the child's name or age.
Neighbors in the London Oaks community gathered outside in support of the family. They looked on at what was left of the home.
First responders are also feeling the emotional toll.
"Everyone that was involved with this call— dispatchers, PD, fire—to collectively work together were impacted by this incident," said Portsmouth Deputy Fire Chief Julian Williamson. "It is very unfortunate, uncharacteristic for a situation like this to happen. And when it does, it definitely touches everyone's heart."
Authorities say it is unclear if smoke alarms alerted people in the apartment.
Two adults and one child were able to make it out, according to Williamson.
There were responding agencies from Portsmouth and Navy Region Mid Atlantic. The fire was controlled in about 25 minutes. How it started remains under investigation.