The Latest: 9 dead in early morning Memphis house fire

By: News Staff

The Associated Press

news@abc.com

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Memphis Fire Director Gina Sweat says 9 people are dead after an early morning house fire.

She says one child is fighting for life in a hospital.

Fire officials had said earlier that at least seven people perished after a blaze enveloped the home early Monday.

Fire Department Lt. Wayne Cooke said at the time that four adults and three children were dead and at least three other children were taken to Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in “extremely critical condition.”

Cook said the first firefighters who arrived at the scene about 1:30 a.m. saw smoking coming out of the one-story home where a family of 10 lived. It took about 15 minutes for firefighters to extinguish the blaze.

Officials are trying to determine what caused the fire.

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