A 12-year-old child managed to rescue their 2-year-old sibling from the vehicle, before alerting their father about the fire near Tumwater in Washington state
Credit: Thurston county sheriff
NEED TO KNOW
- A 5-month-old baby has died after a car caught fire while the infant’s father briefly went inside their home on Tuesday, July 21
- A 12-year-old child managed to rescue their 2-year-old sibling from the vehicle, before alerting their father about the fire
- Authorities are investigating the cause of the incident, with assistance from local fire officials
A 5-month-old baby has died after a car caught fire in Washington state.
On Tuesday, July 21 at approximately 12:10 p.m. local time, deputies and fire personnel responded to reports of a vehicle “fully engulfed in flames,” with an infant still being inside “in their car seat,” on 93rd Avenue Southeast near Tumwater, the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) said in a news release.
The infant’s father had been preparing to leave home with his three children when the fire started, according to the TSCO.
“The father briefly returned inside the home while the children remained inside the running vehicle,” police said. “A short time later, smoke began filling the vehicle. The 12-year-old was able to remove the 2-year-old from the vehicle before running inside to alert their father. When they returned outside, the vehicle was fully engulfed in flames.”
Credit: STEFANI REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Stock Images
“Despite the efforts of the child’s father, nearby residents, and emergency personnel, the infant died in the fire,” said the TSCO.
“The father and several neighbors attempted to extinguish the fire and rescue the infant,” the release continued. “Several individuals sustained burn injuries during the rescue attempt.”
The father and his children, as well as the injured individuals, were sent for medical evaluation and treatment, police said. The family has not been publicly identified.
The TCSO is working with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and local fire investigators to determine the cause of the fire.
“Our thoughts are with the family, loved ones, and all those affected by this tragic loss,” the sheriff’s office concluded in the release.
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Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders said in a Facebook post following the tragedy, “Absolutely sick to my stomach today after seeing this scene. I am deeply sorry to the family and our first responders who had to experience this.”
“Thank you to our Chaplains for always showing up alongside us to support the families on the hard calls,” he continued, adding, “RIP little one.”
PEOPLE has reached out to the TSCO and the ATF for additional information, but didn’t immediately hear back.
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