Fort Worth

Fort Worth Firefighters Find Toddler Alone in Smoke-Filled Apartment

Police said they arrested a man after his 17-month-old son was found in a smoke-filled East Fort Worth apartment early Tuesday morning.[[295754511,L]]

Fort Worth police said 34-year-old Vincent Van Arsdale said he left his son alone Tuesday morning while he drove his wife to work.

While he was gone, Van Arsdale's neighbors at the Water's Landing Apartments called 911 and reported smoke coming from his residence.

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After forcing their way into the smoke-filled apartment, firefighters said they found food burning unattended on the stove. They did a customary search of the apartment, and that is when they discovered the toddler sleeping in a bed.

“As they reported, they found the child sound asleep in the bed and got him. At that point, once they found him and got him to move around, he began to cry. So that is a good sign for us,” said Fort Worth Fire Public Information Officer Lt. Kyle Falkner.

The child was treated in a fire truck for smoke inhalation, before being rushed to Cook Children’s Medical Center. Police said they expect him to fully recover.

Van Arsdale, who was found by police outside the apartment, told police that he left the child in the bedroom while he drove to his wife's work.

The Fort Worth Police Department's Crimes Against Children Unit arrested Van Arsdale on charges with endangering a child, possession of marijuana and eight outstanding warrants.

Authorities said the boy's mother arrived at the scene from work a short time after the call came in.

Police arrest a man after Fort Worth firefighters found his 15-month-old son alone in a smoke-filled apartment Tuesday morning.

Some neighbors heard the fire trucks in the early morning and tell NBC 5 they feel awful for the family.

“It is sad to me,” said Pamela Johnson.

NBC 5's Julie Fine contributed to this report.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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