Deadly Memphis House Fire Kills 7, Injures 3

August 17, 2008 9:21 a.m. EST

Memphis, TN (AHN) - A Memphis house fire on Saturday killed seven and injured three, making it the deadliest fire there in recent decades.

Among the injured was a pregnant 17-year-old who was saved when her 18-year-old boyfriend reentered the burning home where she, and the boy's mother, were screaming for help. The boy, his mother and five children died inside the house.

Another teenager and an 11-year-old boy also survived the blaze and all three survivors were hospitalized with second-degree burns on their faces and hands, fire officials reportedly said.

Memphis firefighters managed to have the fire at the duplex under control about 20 minutes after they arrived. But were unable to enter the building when they first arrived because the brick and wood-frame building was engulfed in flames with windows popping out from heat when they arrived.

All the dead were found huddled in the same first-floor room. Fire officials are investigating the blaze and haven't ruled the deaths as fire fatalities.