Toddler dies in house fire
CAROLINE LOBSINGER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 6 years, 2 months AGO
I grew up in the Tri-Cities, Wash., and have always loved to write. I attended the University of Washington, where I earned a double major in journalism and political science, with an area of emphasis in history. I am the fifth out of six kids — don't believe any of the stories that my siblings tell. To be able to tell others stories and take photos for a living is a dream come true — and I considered myself blessed to be a community journalist. When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, hiking and spending time outdoors, genealogy, reading, and watching the UW Huskies and the Seattle Seahawks. I am a servant to my cat, Frankie, who yes, will eat anything and everything in sight … even wedding cookies. | January 13, 2019 12:00 AM
SANDPOINT — A 2-year-old boy has died as a result of an early morning house fire in the Sandpoint area.
The fire, which occurred at 620 E. Mountain View Drive in the northern part of the city, was reported in a 911 call at about 12:30 a.m. Saturday, according to a press release.
Two adults in the home awoke to flames with the house already fully engulfed. The pair were able to escape out a second-story window and call for help, city officials said in the press release. When first responders from Selkirk Fire and Sandpoint Police arrived a few minutes after the 911 call, the couple advised that because of the flames they had been unable to reach the 2-year-old boy who was still in the home.
When firefighters were able to reach the boy, he was found deceased in his upstairs bedroom.
“Last night, I woke up to flames in my face. I had zero time to act,” wrote Jaymes Hyder in a GoFundMe account request seeking money to pay for his son’s funeral. “I had to throw my girlfriend out the window behind me and then stare down a hallway of flames to my son’s room where instantly I was in hell.”
Flames were everywhere and there was no way to get to toddler’s room, Hyder said.
Everything they had was in the home, leaving nothing to pay for the funeral, he added.
“… Honestly I’m beyond lost,” Hyder wrote in the post. “I woke up this morning praying last night never happened but I can’t change that it did. I have no clothes, no shoes, no money, no car, and very lil faith now. Please help me raise money for (his) funeral.”
According to city officials and social media posts, the toddler’s mother, Tessa Potwin, did not live in the home and lived elsewhere in Sandpoint. A second GoFundMe account has been set up by a member of the mother’s family to help her with her share of funeral expenses.
A coordinated response involving career and volunteer firefighters and engines from the Sandpoint, Dover and Sagle fire stations operating under Selkirk Fire was simultaneously dispatched to fight the fire, city officials said in the press release.
A state fire marshal was on scene early Saturday morning to begin his investigation into the cause of the fire with support from Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearm officials. In addition, city officials said responding firefighters from Selkirk Fire also went through a critical incident debrief Saturday morning.
City officials said further information will be released when it is available.
Caroline Lobsinger can be reached by email at clobsinger@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @CarolDailyBee.
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