By Tia Lyons
Staff Writer
EL DORADO — A 9-year-old El Dorado boy died in a house fire that occurred Monday afternoon, according to the El Dorado Fire Department.
Fire Chief Chad Mosby said the boy was found inside the residence at 1003 Lincoln, where he lived with his grandparents.
Mosby said boy was home alone when the fire broke out.
The body was sent to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory for a positive identification.
Firefighters responded to a report of a fire at 1003 Lincoln between 2:30 and 3 p.m. and found the house fully engulfed in flames.
Mosby said the EFD has not yet determined what caused the fire, noting that there were several heat sources — gas-operated appliances, including heaters, a dryer and water heater, and power cords and strips — inside the house that cannot be ruled out in the investigation.
“We have not found anything to suggest that it was anything other than an accidental fire,” Mosby said.
He said the fire appeared to have started in an area between one of the bedrooms and possibly the bathroom, adding that that area was significantly damaged by fire.
Firefighters found the boy inside a bedroom, Mosby said, adding that it appeared as if the boy had not been home long when the fire started.
“We don’t know the exact cause of death. There’s no evidence showing that it was anything other than related to the fire,” Mosby said. “It could have been smoke inhalation or thermal burns.”
The boy’s grandfather arrived on the scene and was surrounded by other family members, friends and neighbors, the fire chief said.
Firefighters remained on the scene until just after 8 p.m. The house was destroyed in the blaze, Mosby said.
The fatal fire was the second to occur in the city this year.
A 54-year-old woman died in August in a fire at her residence at 1105 Glenwood Drive.
Tia Lyons can be contacted at 870-862-6611 or by email at tlyons@ eldoradonews.com.