VIDEO: Effingham Native, Now St. Louis Firefighter, Attempts to Rescue Boy from House Fire

A former local man, now a St. Louis firefighter, entered a house on fire Wednesday morning in an attempt to rescue a young boy trapped inside.  The boy has since died from injuries he received from the fire.

Jake Buhnerkempe worked with the Effingham and Watson Fire Departments and also worked with the Effingham County Sheriff's Department before being hired for the St. Louis Department.  He's the son of Roger and Tory Buhnerkempe of Watson and is married to the former Sarah Higgs of rural Teutopolis.

Firefighters answered a call about 11am to a house in the 4500 block of Emerson Avenue in St. Louis.  Buhnerkempe entered the home and performed a "scoop and grab" of the boy who was turned over to medics at the scene and then taken to St. Louis Children's Hospital.  The boy died early this afternoon.  He had been unconscious when recovered, but medics were able to revive him for a time.