Child Cooking in Kitchen Caused Fatal Fire

Investigators say a fire that claimed the life of a 9-year-old boy in Hermon, Maine, was caused by a child cooking in the kitchen while the parents were away.

Steve McCausland from the Maine Department of Public Safety said Tuesday that a pizza box was ignited by one of the stove's burners. He said the July 7 fire was ruled accidental.

Killed in the blaze was Wyatt Parker of Levant, who was spending the night with two cousins.

Officials say 10-year-old Ashlyn Parker suffered from smoke inhalation and another cousin escaped unharmed to summon help from a passing motorist.

The fire broke out while the parents were running errands. Investigators could not find a working smoke detector but the 10-year-old survivor says she heard one. 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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