Condition Upgraded For Survivor Of Fire That Killed 9
Funeral To Be Held At Convention Center For 8 Fire Victims
UPDATED: 2:01 pm EDT May 25,
2005
CLEVELAND -- The condition of a survivor of a house fire that killed nine people was upgraded from critical to fair Wednesday at the burn unit of MetroHealth Medical Center. No further information on the condition or injuries of Capritta Bell, 22, was available, according a hospital spokeswoman. Bell and Teon Smith were the lone survivors of Saturday's fire that killed a woman and eight children ages 7 to 15. Smith escaped the fire without serious injury. Smith was staying in the basement of the two-story, 99-year-old home and the dead were found on the second floor. Fire Chief Paul Stubbs said it wasn't clear where Bell was at the time of the fire.
SLIDESHOW: 9 Die In Fire
SLIDESHOW: Fire Memorial The cause of the fire hasn't been determined but appeared to be accidental, according to Stubbs. The victims died of smoke inhalation, according to autopsies. Cuyahoga County Coroner Elizabeth Balraj said she would rule whether the deaths were accidental when the fire department indicates how the fire started.
FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS:
Funeral arrangements have been made for the one adult and seven kids who were killed Saturday in a fire on East 87th Street. Cleveland's African-American Funeral Homes Association will make the huge funeral happen, NewsChannel5 reported. The service will be held Tuesday at the Public Auditorium at the Cleveland Convention Center. At 9:30 a.m., the public can visit with family members. And the service will be held at 10 a.m. The eighth child's funeral is still being planned by Cleveland city officials. In the meantime, shockwaves continue to flow through the east side community. Friends said they are doing everything they can to help relieve the family's grief. There will be another prayer vigil at 8 p.m. You can help the families with a cash donation at any Key Bank to the East 87th and Superior Memorial Fund. Previous Stories:
- May 24, 2005: Frantic Neighbors Call 911 To Report Kids Trapped In Home
- May 24, 2005: Vigil Attendees Asked To Bring Flashlights
- May 23, 2005: Smoke Detectors Key In Helping Families Survive Fires
- May 23, 2005: Memorial Grows Outside Home Where 8 Kids, 1 Adult Died
- May 22, 2005: Firefighers Believe Blaze That Killed 9 Accidental
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