Frankford fire kills two, one a 7-year-old, hurts 5

Screams and flames alerted Frankford neighbors yesterday morning to a fast-moving fire that engulfed a three-story home, killing a woman and a 7-year-old boy and injuring five other residents, two of them critically, officials said.

The blaze started after a male resident, who was described as autistic, was cooking about 6 a.m. and failed to turn off a burner, Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers said.

"We found one smoke alarm in the basement with no battery," Ayers said.

Maria Gonzalez, who lives in the 4300 block of Leiper Street, was getting ready to go to work, she said, when she heard her 17-year-old son yelling. He called 911 and raced across the street, ripping the screen off a first-floor window to help get someone out, she said.

Flames were shooting out the second and third floors, and residents were visible at the windows, Gonzalez said.

"We were all yelling, 'Jump!'," she said. "Then someone - I'm not even sure who it was - handed me the baby girl, and I began doing CPR."

The baby was breathing, said Gonzalez, trained as a nursing assistant.

"She coughed, and black smoke came out," Gonzalez said. "I ran down to the end of the block and handed her to the paramedics."

Five occupants of the home were taken to hospitals. Eight relatives lived at the address, Ayers said, and seven were at home.

He identified the fatalities, both found in the second-floor hall, as Debbie Hatchett, who was in her 40s, and Quamier Hatchett, 7.

Annette Hatchett, Quamier's mother, was released from Temple University Hospital, Ayers said.

Lillian Hatchett, who is in her 60s, and Ethel and Johnnie Hatchett, both in their 40s, were taken to Temple University Hospital, Ayers said. Lillian Hatchett was in critical condition, Ethel Hatchett in serious condition, and Johnnie Hatchett in fair condition, a hospital spokesman said last night.

Ayers said Maya Hatchett, about 1, was in critical condition at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children. Chanell Hatchett, 18, Maya's mother, was not at home at the time of the fire, Ayers said.

One firefighter suffered an electrical shock, and another was burned, he said. "Fortunately, they're both going to be OK," he said, adding that a third firefighter had been sidelined by heat exhaustion, but had not gone to a hospital.

The blaze was reported at 7:31 a.m. and declared under control at 8:06 a.m., Ayers said.

He disputed some neighbors' contention that closing Engine 14, the closest fire company, had contributed to the tragedy.

"The response time was 4 minutes; that's below our average response time of 4 minutes, 36 seconds," he said.

Neighbors said the home, which was gutted by the fire, belonged to a woman in her 60s whom they know as Ethel Hatchett and who lived there with her children and grandchildren.

Property records list the owner as Lillian Hatchett.

"They were a very friendly family," said Bob Griffiths, who lives around the corner. "Everybody knew them and liked them."

Neighbors, who described the block as close-knit, stood shaking their heads in disbelief and sobbing yesterday afternoon as city officials worked to shut off the electricity and gas to the home.

"I want to believe it was just a bad dream," said Denise Davido, who lives next door. "It hurts so badly."

Neighbor Faith Rawl described Ethel Hatchett as a strong, respected matriarch who took care of her children.

"There was a lot of love in that house," Rawl said.

Krissey Majewski, a former neighbor, grew up with Annette Hatchett. She rushed to the Hatchett home after hearing the news, clutching a white teddy bear Annette Hatchett had given her after the birth of one of Majewski's children.

"I was supposed to be Quamier's godmother," she said, her voice cracking.

Ayers reiterated the importance of safety precautions, such as having a home-escape plan, and he urged residents to visit the Web site for a new outreach program, www.freedomfromfire.com

He said residents could also receive free smoke detectors.

"We'll even install them for you."