Boy Fractured Back, Has Burns, After Jumping From East Minor Street Blaze

A 17-year-old boy who jumped from the third floor of his 268 East Minor Street home in Norristown that went ablaze on Saturday afternoon is recuperating in the hospital from a fractured bone in his back, as well as burns on his body.

According to his mother, Ayana Trible, aside from the fracture the teenager suffered burns on his ears, his backs and his legs, and he may remain “for awhile” at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), where he was airlifted on Saturday, she told Patch on Monday.

“He’s coming along. He’ll have to wear a back brace for awhile,” she added.

The fire, which damaged seven homes on East Minor Street, has left seven families displaced, with 19 people in total, according to Dave Schrader Chief Communications Officer for the American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania.   

According to Norristown Fire Chief Thomas M. O'Donnell as of Monday afternoon, the two-alarm blaze is being investigated by the Norristown Fire Department, the Norristown Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police and the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office. The cause of the fire is not yet determined.  

“I’m just tired,” said Trible, who has been travelling back and forth to CHOP from a local hotel.

She and her sister were not there for the fire. Along with her son, her daughter escaped the house with their pet dog. Her daughter and dog were unharmed, Trible said.

The family lost all that they had, she said. “We need everything. We don’t have anything right now. Whatever they want to do, is appreciated,” she said.

Currently the Red Cross and the George Washington Carver Center in Norristown are working to help the displaced families, who were taken to a hotel. Locally, the Carver Center and the Greater Norristown Police Athletic League (GNPAL) will be accepting aid from the community to help those displaced by the fire.

Those wishing to bring donations to the Carver Center, located at 249 East Jacoby Street, can do so from 6-8 p.m. from Monday to Friday. 

Those wishing to bring donations to GNPAL, located at 340 Harding Boulevard in Norristown, can visit their Facebook page for updates: https://www.facebook.com/Greaternorristownpal

Those wishing to give monetary donation to the Red Cross can visit for further information: http://www.redcross.org/pa/philadelphia

Look out for more information about how to donate.