A young child was found in a crib in a burning house at Dallas Bay on Wednesday morning and airlifted to Children's Hospital. The three-year-old boy, Blake Jernigan, died later in the afternoon.
The home at 2003 Dallas Lake Road was destroyed by fire.
The resident called 9-1-1 at 9:48 a.m. reporting heavy smoke and fire at the home. Dallas Bay Volunteer Fire Department responded and arrived within minutes.
Chief Al Rosamond of the Dallas Bay Volunteer Fire Department said the back of the house was fully involved when the first units arrived on the scene.
The resident told the firefighters a young child was still inside the house. At that time, Dallas Bay firefighters and Hamilton County Fire Training personnel entered the home with a thermal imaging camera, which aided them to find the child lying in his crib, officials said.
HCEMS treated the child on the scene and relinquished care to Lifeforce for transport to Children’s Hospital.
Dallas Bay VFD requested Soddy Daisy Fire Department for Mutual Aid and manpower.
The cause of the fire will be under investigation by the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department.
Damages are estimated at $40,000.
The boy's uncle was reportedly home with him at the time of the fire.
Dallas Bay VFD was assisted by Soddy Daisy Fire Department, Hamilton County EMS and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department.
House at Dallas Bay
- Photo2 by Amy Maxwell