Victims listed as critical after fire

FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. (WALA) - Ocean City-Wright Engine Three along with Fort Walton Beach, Mary Esther, and Okaloosa Island was dispatched to a fire in a home on Wheeler Drive in Fort Walton Beach around 3:30 a. m. on Sunday.

Glenn Morris lives on Wheeler Drive, next to where the home caught on fire.

 Morris was in his home when he got a panicked knock on his door from a family member who escaped the blaze.

He said he and his stepdaughter took off towards the home to do what they could.

“By the time I got to the front door, my daughter was bringing an older gentleman out of the house and basically handed him to me," said Morris.

He said while he held onto the man, his daughter ran back into the home trying to find more victims.

Officials said Fort Walton Beach firefighters rescued two people from the fire and two other people were already out of the home lying in the front yard.

Morris said the man he was holding had severe burns over his body.

 “He was hurting badly. I kept telling him that I’m sorry and I felt bad because I couldn’t do anything for him. I’d never been that close to a victim with such severe wounds. It was traumatic,” Morris said.

Ocean City-Wright Firefighters arrived on scene and were immediately tasked with providing care and resuscitation efforts to multiple victims. The firefighters assisted Fort Walton Beach, Okaloosa Island, and Okaloosa EMS with patient care.

Authorities said two victims were in cardiac arrest, a third patient had severe burns and went into cardiac arrest, and a fourth had smoke inhalation.

Officials said all three cardiac arrest victims were resuscitated by the time they arrived at the hospital, and they are in critical condition.