UPDATE: Fatal Fire Caused by Child Playing with Lighter

LORTON, VA -- (UPDATE Wednesday, 2:30 p.m.) A young boy died Tuesday in a house fire Tuesday night in Lorton, according to Fairfax County Police. Four adults (three men and one woman) were transported to local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries, police said. Two dogs and three birds perished in the fire and two dogs were rescued.

Fire investigators determined the fire was accidental in nature and started inside the garage. It was caused by inappropriate use of a lighter by the child, officials said Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Feb. 21, at approximately 5:08 p.m., the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department responded for reports of a brush fire in the 8100 block of Arcade Street in the Lorton section of Fairfax County.

While units were en route, the incident was upgraded to a house fire based on incoming 911 calls.

When they arrived, firefighters observed fire and smoke showing from the garage of a single family home. Two adults had evacuated the property and advised firefighters that a five year-old child was in the garage. Firefighters initiated an aggressive attack inside the garage in an attempt to rescue the child. The fire was quickly extinguished. The child was located in the garage. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Prior to the arrival of fire and rescue units, three neighbors, a retired Fairfax County Battalion Chief, an off-duty Fairfax County Battalion Chief and an off-duty Fairfax County Fire Lieutenant, attempted to extinguish the fire and rescue the child. Two were transported to the hospital for smoke inhalation. The two adult occupants were also taken to a local hospital for smoke inhalation. Two dogs were rescued. Two additional dogs and three birds perished. There were no on-duty firefighter injuries.

The fire was discovered by an occupant of the house. There were smoke alarms in the home. It is unknown if they activated at the time of the fire. The Fire Marshall’s Office is conducting an investigation in conjunction with the Fairfax County Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Bureau per standard operating procedures.

Fire investigators determined the fire was accidental in nature and started inside the garage. It was caused by inappropriate use of a lighter by the child. Damages are estimated to be $93,750.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Detective Vickery at 703-246-7800 or Crime Solvers electronically by visiting http://www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org or text-a-tip by texting “TIP187” plus your message to CRIMES(274637) or by calling 1-866-411-TIPS(8477), or call Fairfax County Police at 703-691-2131.

The fire apparently started in the garage of the home, according to the fire department.

Watch video from the scene, posted by the fire department here:

Approximate location of fatal fire in Lorton (Google maps):

PHOTOS/screen shot from video posted by Fairfax County Fire and Rescue; photo courtesy of FCPD