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
Emergency crews found four children living in squalid conditions and being hidden from first responders during a medical response in South Boston in which a person died, according to an incident report.
That fire department report, obtained by the Herald and confirmed by police response, states that a BFD crew was sent to Old Colony Avenue Saturday morning for a call that a man had gone into cardiac arrest and required medical attention.
However, according to the incident report, firefighters found more than just a routine medical emergency.
“The apartment was in extremely unsanitary conditions. Approximately 6 adults, who appeared to be males, were seen in the apartment,” they wrote, saying they subsequently found “four children in the back bedroom being hidden by an adult male from first responders.”
According to the incident report the children ranged from ages 5 to 10.
“All of the adult parties were being uncooperative and did not provide helpful information. All adults present denied having children inside the apartment,” they wrote.
Fire crews say they filed a “51A form with the appropriate state agency.”
A 51A form is available for download from the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families and is titled “Report of Child(ren) Alleged to be Suffering from Abuse or Neglect.”
A spokesperson for DCF could not be reached to comment on the disposition of the children due to the Juneteenth federal holiday, though the agency does not typically comment on their work.
The fire crews, according to the incident report, performed CPR on the person in cardiac arrest, who apparently died. The Boston Police Department is investigating.
“At about 11:11 AM, on Saturday, June 17th, officers responded to the area of 381 Old Colony Avenue for a death investigation. District Detectives handling, not suspicious, no further information,” a BPD spokesperson told the Herald.
It is unclear whether the children were relatives of the people the fire department described as “appearing to be male” or if they lived in the apartment.
Joe Dwinell contributed.