Mother, son die in Kennett fire

Daily Dunklin Democrat

KENNETT, Mo. -- A fire late Wednesday night claimed the lives of a mother and her son in Kennett.

Police identified the victims as Charlean Ellis, 35, and her son, Christopher, 5.

Police Capt. Steve Williams said police received a report of heavy smoke at 1816 Blair St. and when officers arrived flames were coming from the front of the residence.

John Mallott, Kennett fire chief, said when firefighters arrived the structure was engulfed in flames and heavy black smoke was coming from the house. The fire had been reported by a resident on Bradley Street several blocks away, authorities said.

Mallott said firefighters did not see anyone at the building but saw a vehicle parked in the driveway on the east side of the building.

Firefighters, fighting back flames to enter the blazing structure, found the woman and her son unconscious in a back bedroom in the one-story wood-frame building.

Emergency personnel and firefighters began resuscitation efforts, and the pair was rushed to the emergency room at Twin Rivers Regional Medical Center where efforts to revive them continued.

They were pronounced dead by the attending physician. "This is a terrible loss to the family, friends and to members of the fire department and EMS who gave their tireless efforts to try and resuscitate the victims," Mallott said.

"The real tragedy of this," he said, "is there were no smoke detectors in the home. A smoke detector properly placed and in operating condition, could have saved their lives."

Police and fire officials continued their investigation into the cause of the fire.

Mallott said the fire appeared to have started near a couch in the living room at the front of the residence.

Authorities said the house is owned by Grace Glisson of Senath, Mo.