Missouri firefighters fail to find body of woman in bathtub after fire. Captain says there was ‘too much debris’. Victim described as ‘pack rat’.

Northeast Ambulance & Fire Protection District

Firefighters didn’t find the body of Gloria Banks in the bathtub of her burned out home until four-hours after they initially left the scene Tuesday morning. The firefighters returned to the home at 7115 Groveland Drive around 10:00 AM because Quincy Harris, the godson of the 80-year-old woman, visited both the Northwoods Police Department and the Northeast Ambulance and Fire Protection District, after learning of the fire, wondering what hospital Banks had been taken to.

Family photo of Gloria Banks provided to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Gloria Banks’ body was found beneath debris from the collapsed bathroom ceiling. The fire is believed to have started in an attic fan.

Elizabethe Holland a St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter, writes the incident commander, Northeast Deputy Chief Bilal Olushola, couldn’t be reached for comment and that ”Deputy Chief Kevin McPike, who was also at the scene, said he could not comment”. A captain who had gone into the home during the fire did speak about the incident. Here are excerpts from Holland’s report:

“I had to round them up and tell them,” said Harris, 36, of Dellwood. “That’s unbelievable that they couldn’t find the body. Who’s to say she wasn’t living still? … I’m going to get some answers. You miss a body? How do you miss a body?”

Northeast Capt. Phil Boling, one of the firefighters who went into the house, said the crew conducted two searches before leaving. Boling said the home was difficult to search because it was full of debris. Banks’ godson and a neighbor confirmed that the house was jammed with clothing and other items. They referred to Banks, a retired St. Louis Public Schools teacher, as a “pack rat.”

Boling added that by the time firefighters arrived, there was significant structural damage, including a hole in the floor that trapped a Jennings firefighter by the leg. He also said firefighters were never able to confirm from neighbors whether anyone was in the house.

Northwoods Alderwoman Marvalda Jones lives on Banks’ street and took dinner to her several hours before the fire. Jones said some initially thought an ambulance at the scene had left with Banks. Neighbors later learned, however, that the ambulance had transported a firefighter. So just before the firetrucks left, Jones said she told a Northeast firefighter that she feared Banks might still be inside. Jones said she didn’t press it because she thought Banks might be with her godson — until she saw Harris show up to try to find her.

“They should have looked harder,” Jones said.

Harris said he raced to the house about 8:15 a.m. after he saw a text message about the fire that a friend had sent earlier. He said he arrived to find the front door wide open.

Also on STATter911 …

• Early video: Cinnaminson, New Jersey house explosion. Elderly woman badly injured. – January 12, 2011
• Captured on video: ‘Flashover’ at Olathe, Kansas house fire. – February 14, 2012
• Neighbors say Flint, Michigan firefighters missed body. Woman found 12-hours after fire. – April 18, 2011
• What are the odds? Vacaville, CA firefighter finds items stolen from his home while on medical call. – February 3, 2012