Monday, August 4, 2014

Drunk dad fails to wake up during house fire, putting 5-year-old daughter in danger (Willimantic, Connecticut)

Dad is identified as CHRISTOPHER ADAMS. Is he a single dad? Notice that there is no mention of a mother in the home or anywhere else. What happened to Mom?

http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/Burning-Food-Triggers-Fire-Alarm-After-Intoxicated-Willimantic-Father-of-5-Year-Old-Falls-Asleep-While-Cooking-Police-269804891.html

Burning Food Triggers Fire Alarm After Willimantic Father of 5-Year-Old Falls Asleep Drunk: Police

By Jessie Sawyer

Christopher Adams, 29, a Willimantic father father is facing charges after his 5-year-old daughter and firefighters took several attempts to wake him up from a drunken slumber on the couch as smoke rose from food cooking on the stove, triggering the fire alarm on Saturday night, police said.

Monday, Aug 4, 2014 • Updated at 7:56 AM EDT

A Willimantic father father is facing charges after his 5-year-old daughter and firefighters took several attempts to wake him up from a drunken slumber on the couch as smoke rose from food cooking on the stove, triggering the fire alarm on Saturday night, police said.

Police arrested Christopher Adams, 29, of 10 Valley Street Extension, after Willimantic firefighters responded to his apartment complex at 7 p.m. that evening. When fire crews arrived, there was smoke rising from an apartment window.

Firefighters saw a young girl inside who looked like she was trying to wake someone up on the couch, according to a news release from Willimantic police. Firefighters had to force entry into the apartment unit because no one answered their knocks and the door was locked, police said.

Adams had fallen asleep on the couch while cooking food and police said he "appeared intoxicated at the time." Rising smoke from the burning food triggered the fire alarm, according to police.

"On the surface, Adams appeared to be caring for his daughter by making dinner, but a decision to mix intoxicants with child care almost cost him much more than burnt food," Cpl. Charles Miller said. "We're grateful for the expedited response by the Fire Department, and are committed to protecting our city's youngest residents.

His daughter tried to wake him up and firefighter tried also numerous times before he finally stirred, police said. The girl was not injured and she is currently in the care of a family member who came to pick her up.

Police arrived later on scene to assist the fire department and investigated the incident.

Police charged Adams with risk of injury to a minor and reckless endangerment and held him in custody on a $20,000 bond. Adams is scheduled to appear in Danielson Superior Court on Monday.