The Associated Press
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Firefighters preparing to play Santa for a family ended up rescuing one of couple’s four young children from their burning house.
The firefighters were gathering Christmas gifts for the family when the call came in.
“We wanted them to have toys on Christmas morning, but it ended up they needed more than toys,” said fire Lt. Bobby Qualls.
Kim Bateman, Leonard Tubbs and three of their four children had gotten out of the burning house Tuesday when firefighters arrived. But 4-year-old Leonard “JoJo” Tubbs was missing.
Firefighters found him in the home unconscious from smoke inhalation and he was hospitalized in critical condition. Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center said Wednesday that a full recovery was expected.
Firefighters on the B-shift at the fire station, which covers a largely residential area on the north side of the city, had decided to select a needy family to help on Christmas and began collecting money to buy toys and gifts.
The cause of the fire was still under investigation and the family was looking for another place to live.
Firefighters vowed to help with that search and to continue with the Christmas plans as well.
“We’re obviously not going to waver in this time of need,” said Lt. Mark Eskew. “We’ll step up.”