Investigators with the Alabama State Fire Marshals Office have identified the cause of the January 18th fire that resulted in the death of a 1 year old child and the injury of two other children ages 3 and 5.
Through examination of the scene and interviews, investigators have determined the fire occurred while the 3 year old was playing with a cigarette lighter. The child set fire to a piece of paper which flamed up and his 5-year-old sister threw a blanket over the burning paper. The two children then hid under a bed where they were rescued.
The 16 year old boy who was babysitting the children was able to rescue the girl by breaking a window and pulling her from underneath the bed. Volunteer firemen from the Kinston Volunteer Fire Department were able to rescue the 3 year old boy from beneath the same bed by pulling him through the same window. Rescuers were unable to reach the 1 year old that was in a different room.