On January 22nd, a two-alarm apartment fire broke out in Independence, Missouri, resulting in the death of two adults, Devante McShann and Katelynn McShann, and their two children, Aaliyah McShann, age 3, and Bella Edwards, age 8. The family was trapped in their apartment due to a neighbor’s unattended cooking that spread flames into their apartment.
“They were very loving and just a great little family,” Janelle Hawthorne, DeVante McShann’s sister, told the Kansas City Star. “They were just starting out.”
Every day, Jennifer Zielinski, the mother of the late Katelyn McShann, would drive McShann and her children to work and school. On the day of the fire, they never emerged from the building.
“I called her and it went straight to voicemail,” Zielinski said. “It rang, and it rang, and no one ever answered.”
Bella Edwards, daughter of Katelyn and DeVante McShann, was in 2nd grade in the district. An email was sent out to the parents in the district, giving them advice on how to talk to children about the death of their peer.
“To be perfectly honest, I’m not looking forward to learning what life is like after this,” Zielinski said.
Firefighters who arrived at the building were able to put out the fire at 7:30 a.m., although two firefighters suffered serious burns on their hands, necks and ears afterwards and were taken to a hospital for treatment.
“We need to make sure that we never leave cooking unattended, okay? That’s how quickly things can escalate,” Fire Chief Jimmy Walker said.
A GoFundMe has been opened in support of the Zielinski family’s proceedings. You can donate here.
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, 246 people and 7 firefighters have died in home fires across the U.S. as of February 6th, 2025. In 2022, 47.7% of home fires were cooking-related.Â
Fire safety can be something many find negligible, but fires can start and spread in the blink of an eye. It is important to review common safety procedures, as well as to have an established plan as to what to do in the event of an outbreak of flames.
One of the most important devices in your house in case of a fire is your fire alarm. Many may find these to be annoying, as they sometimes go off by accident or chirp when they have low batteries, but they’re so loud for a reason. Their express purpose is to alert and wake up anyone in case of a fire.
When the alarms go off, it’s important to know what to do instead of panicking. As a family, you should come up with an escape plan to quickly and efficiently get out of the house. Take note of at least two ways to get out of any room, such as a doorway or a window. For windows on the second floor of a home, keep a fire ladder nearby to deploy for safety.
Additionally, someone in the house should be appointed to help babies, children, or family members who need extra help out of the building. And, as always, have a backup plan in case this person is unable to do these tasks.
When actually dealing with the escape itself, there are some things to keep in mind about the nature of flames. If you go to open a door, check the door handle with the back of your hand to test if it’s hot. This will help you make sure you don’t accidentally burn your hand or walk directly into a fire.
Another tip is to try and stay low to the ground, as smoke rises from flames and can not only cloud your vision but also cause breathing difficulties as you escape, even leading to death. Damp rags or washcloths over your nose and mouth can help reduce the amount of smoke you breathe in. And, as a warning you should give to children and young siblings, never hide from firefighters. They are there to help everyone escape and stay safe, and hiding will make it harder for them to do so.
Fires are a quick killer that can sneak up on anyone. It is extremely important to keep yourself and your family updated on what to do in a fire, and ensure your fire alarms are charged and functional. If you want more information about fire safety, check out your local fire department’s website, or the United States Fire Association here.
What do you know about fire safety?
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8 Total Questions
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Question 1/8
What percentage of house fire deaths happen in homes without smoke alarms?
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Question 1/8
What percentage of house fire deaths happen in homes without smoke alarms?
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30%
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50%
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70%
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90%
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Question 2/8
What device can help you get safely out of a burning house from a window?
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Question 2/8
What device can help you get safely out of a burning house from a window?
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Fire ladder
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Drainage pipe
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Nothing, just roll out
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A regular trampoline
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Question 3/8
What should you do if a cooking pot catches fire?
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Question 3/8
What should you do if a cooking pot catches fire?
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Douse it with water
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Panic!!
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Dump the pot's contents into the sink
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Cover pot with a metal lid
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Question 4/8
How should you navigate smoke in a fire?
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Question 4/8
How should you navigate smoke in a fire?
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Grab a fan and blow it away
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Run through it blindly
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Crouch low to the ground and cover your mouth and nose
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Hold your breath
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Question 5/8
Where should you go after getting out of a fire?
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Question 5/8
Where should you go after getting out of a fire?
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Anywhere far away
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A specific meeting place your family knows about
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Question 6/8
Should you be careful when opening doors in a fire?
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Question 6/8
Should you be careful when opening doors in a fire?
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Yes; test the door with the back of your hand for heat before opening
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Yes; don't open any doors ever
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No; doors should be okay, unless actively on fire
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No; house doors are fireproof
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Question 7/8
If a fire alarm is chirping, you should:
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Question 7/8
If a fire alarm is chirping, you should:
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Rip it out of the ceiling
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Replace the entire fire alarm
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Replace the batteries of the alarm
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Ignore it
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Question 8/8
If you ever catch fire, what should you do?
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Question 8/8
If you ever catch fire, what should you do?
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Run around and hope the fire stops
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Run to someone else to help you
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Take a second to snap a selfie
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Stop, drop, and roll!
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