BAYTOWN, Texas – One man was flown and two others were taken by ambulance Thursday to Memorial Hermann Hospital after being hurt in a house fire in Baytown, officials said.
The Baytown Fire Department was called to a home in the 500 block of Morrell.
Officials said a 19-year-old with Down Syndrome was flown to the hospital for smoke inhalation. He has been placed in a medically induced coma, his family said.
Tim Daniels said his father, younger brother, David, and nephew, Gavin, were taken to the hospital. David, 19, has Down Syndrome and was trapped in his room, Daniels said.
"They realized that the youngest brother wasn't there with them. So, my sister's boyfriend ran back to the other bedroom, broke open the window and pulled my brother out," he said.
FAMILY: 19 yr old man w Down's Syndrome in induced coma following injuries from house fire in #Baytown. @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/ArnLM8UPwU
— Brandon Walker (@KPRC2Brandon) May 19, 2016
Fire officials believe the fire to be electrical. In all, 3 ppl taken to hospital, 1 via lifeflight, for smoke inhalation. @KPRC2
— Brandon Walker (@KPRC2Brandon) May 19, 2016
Investigators believe the fire may have been caused by an electrical issue. Firefighters huddled around a widow air conditioning unit after the fire was extinguished. They also examined wires that dangled from the house.
A spokesperson for the Baytown Fire Department said the official cause of the fire is under investigation.
Daniels’ family told KPRC 2 that smoke burned his esophagus. They said they are thankful he was rescued from the house.
"He did what he had to do," Tim Daniels said, in reference to his sister's boyfriend, ago pulled David out of the burning house.