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9-Year-Old Burn Victim Flown To Shriners Hospital

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By NEIL JOHNSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 24, 2008

TAMPA - TAMPA - TAMPA - A 9-year-old girl who walked out of a burning house with her upper body wrapped in flames was flown Saturday night to a Shriners hospital with a specialized pediatric burn unit.

Makeila Pressley was in stable, but critical condition, a great-aunt said.

Makeila was among 10 children and four adults in the house at 916 Eldridge St. when a fire started in a back bedroom.

When the smoke detector sounded, family members started searching the house for signs of fire, said Barbara Jenkins, the girl's great-aunt who is speaking for the family.

Makeila's uncle, Lester Nelson, Jr., tried to open the door to the third-grader's bedroom but the door was jammed. When Nelson kicked open the door, flames shot out, Jenkins said.

He saw the girl in the bed with flames around her. Efforts to control the fire with an extinguisher failed, Jenkins said.

Meanwhile the girl's grandfather broke the room's window, again as flames shot out. He turned a garden hose on the fire.

As this happened, Makeila walked out of the room and through the house. Her mother, Davana Pressley, grabbed her, pushed her down and smothered the flames, Jenkins said.

The girl, a student at Largo Central Elementary, was alert and talking before paramedics arrived.

Jenkins said the girl was burned over 54 percent of her body. The burns were confined to the waist up. Her legs had minor burns.

She was flown to Shriners Hospitals for Children-Cincinnati.

Two of Makeila's cousins were taken to Morton Plant Hospital for smoke inhalation and were released later Saturday.

The Clearwater Fire and Rescue was called to the fire about 12:10 a.m. Saturday. The fire department determined the cause of the fire was accidental.

The fire department listed Bernard Adragna as the owner but the house was rented to Lester Nelson. The fire caused about $55,000 in damage, the department estimated.

Jenkins said Makeila's grandmother had temporary custody of eight grandchildren.

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