One child dead, mother & sibling in hospital after house fire

A Des Moines woman and two children were rescued from a burning house last night by a policeman and several firefighters, though one child later died. Des Moines Fire Department spokesman Brian O’Keefe says neighbors saw the flames about nine p-m in the home’s living room and called 9-1-1. Neighbors couldn’t get the doors open but heard the mother screaming inside so they broke a window. A police officer was the first official to arrive. He climbed on a garbage can and found the mother through the smoke while leaning through and was able to get the mother out. O’Keefe says firefighters arrived moments later. Heat and smoke were down to the floor and firefighters had to don their rescue gear to get inside and rescue the children. O’Keefe says three-year-old Kimberly Jarnagin was pronounced dead at a Des Moines hospital. Nine-month-old Jonathan Jarnagin is being treated at Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines. His mother, 29-year-old Angela Ritchie, is at University Hospitals in Iowa City. Reports say electricity had been shut off to the home a few days ago and kerosene lamps were being used. The cause of the fire is under investigation.