‘Caring’ boy died in burning apartment without working smoke alarms, Florida suit says

The sound of smoke alarms didn’t wake the children inside a Florida apartment where a fire had broken out, a lawsuit says.

Romona Andrews said that’s because the smoke alarms didn’t work, leading to the death of her son, according to an Aug. 26 lawsuit filed in Seminole County.

The landlord had no comment when contacted by McClatchy News on Aug. 27.

In the early hours of April 3, Andrews was working while five kids were sleeping at the apartment in Altamonte Springs, according to the lawsuit and a local news interview.

Her 17-year-old daughter woke up shortly before 1:30 a.m. to a fire spreading across the wall in the family room, and she began trying to get her siblings out of the apartment, the lawsuit says.

They thought the 11-year-old had made it out, but they later realized he didn’t, WFTV reported.

He died, while his siblings suffered from smoke inhalation and psychological trauma, according to the lawsuit.

The suit says the landlord failed to ensure the unit had working smoke alarms in accordance with Florida law and their lease. The family accuses the landlord of failing to do routine inspections of the smoke alarms.

In addition to the wrongful death claim, the lawsuit includes four injury claims for the other children.

Andrews described her son as “very caring” and “very family-oriented” in a news conference broadcast by WOFL. She said she didn’t realize how many people her son had touched until he was gone.

“He always called and checked on me, always,” she said. “He was a protector. He wanted to be a fireman. He was a great friend, loved animals, great student.”

She said if her daughter hadn’t woken up, she could have lost all her kids that night.

“To be honest, that phone call plays in my head every time I’m at work…” she said. “Around that time, every night at 1 a.m., that replays in my head.”

Her attorneys with Osborne & Francis Law Firm said Andrews didn’t know the smoke alarms didn’t work “until it was too late.”

The Seminole County Fire Department said the State Fire Marshal was investigating the incident, and no smoke detectors were reported.

Altamonte Springs is part of the Orlando metropolitan area.

How to prepare for a possible house fire

Residential fires killed nearly 2,800 people and injured thousands more in 2022, according to the U.S. Fire Administration.

People could have less than two minutes to escape a house fire after a smoke alarm sounds.

“The increasing severity of home fires due to modern building contents and open space configurations makes it crucial that people understand the dangers of smoke and are prepared to leave their homes immediately in the event of fire,” officials said.

Here are tips officials say could help you be more prepared for a house fire:

• Install smoke alarms in every bedroom and in basements.

• Have a home fire escape plan and practice at-home fire drills.

• Know when and how to use a fire extinguisher, and educate yourself on its proper maintenance.