The 8-month-old child who died early today in an apartment fire at the Hickory Lake complex on Apache Trail is identified as Jream Jenkins. Her brother, age 23 months, is in critical condition. They both lived at the apartment.
Other children in the apartment are also hospitalized as the result of injuries related to the fire. They are siblings, ages 6, 4, 2, and 1, 2 boys and 2 girls, all from Linden, Tennessee.
The investigation into the fire and related issues is being conducted by the Nashville Fire Marshal’s Office, the MNPD’s Youth Services Division, the MNPD’s South Precinct Investigations Unit, and the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services.
From what is known at present, the mothers of the children, who are ages 23 and 25, went to a nightclub Saturday night. Detectives are working to confirm reports that a babysitter was retained. No babysitter was present when first responders arrived.
Two passersby saw the fire early this morning and reported it. The passersby also said a 6-year-old boy had run out of the apartment building screaming that his siblings were inside.
The mothers of the children returned to the apartment complex after firefighters and police officers were on the scene.
The cause of the fire is undetermined.