At 5:45 p.m. Wednesday, June 8, The Colony Fire Department was dispatched to an automatic fire alarm in the 5500 block of Somerset in the Austin Ranch district of the city.
The first-on fire unit arrived to find no signs of smoke or fire in the three-story multi-family apartment building. However, fire crews initiated an investigation on a unit based on information provided by a neighbor who heard a smoke alarm. Firefighters forced the door of the fire apartment. Amid heavy smoke conditions, they entered the apartment and located one victim. Firefighters removed the victim while containing the fire with a water extinguisher.
The fire victim was turned over to paramedics, who were set-up to administer a Cyanokit (hydroxocobalamin) as treatment for the inhalation of toxic fire gases, a primary cause of death for fire victims. The patient was transported to Medical Center Plano by TCFD paramedics. This is the first time TCFD has utilized the recently purchased Cyanokit on a fire victim.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. Fire damage was contained to the apartment of origin.
For media inquiries, contact Chief Scott Thompson at 972-571-0732 or by email at [email protected].