WABASH, Ind. — A 2-year-old was killed and a 6-month-old was injured during a house fire in Wabash on Saturday.
According to a press release from Indiana State police, 911 dispatchers received a call about a fire in the 600 block of Columbus Street around 12:10 p.m. When firefighters arrived at the scene, they found a house that was actively burning.
During a search of the house, crews located the 6-month-old and the 2-year-old. The 6-month-old was unconscious and not breathing when first responders entered the home.
Officials employed life-saving measures like CPR soon after they found the child. The 6-month-old was subsequently transported by ambulance to hospital located near the scene of the fire. The child was then flown to Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis for further treatment.
At last check, ISP reported that the 6-month-old was in stable condition at a hospital.
The 2-year-old first responders found in the residence was pronounced dead at the scene. ISP identified the decedent as 2-year-old Deliaha Goforth.
The Indiana State Fire Marshal’s Office is now trying to determine the cause and origin of the fire. Investigators preliminarily believe the fire broke out in a room on the first floor of the residence.
The room the fire started in was occupied by Goforth. Both Goforth and the 6-month-old were sleeping when the fire began, per ISP.
Indiana State Police and the State Fire Marshal’s Office are working to determine if the fire was result of any criminal activity.
ISP reported that its investigation of the incident is ongoing. Police expect their investigation to move slowly because they want to make sure they are thorough.
No additional information on the incident has been made available, and police do not expect any further details on the fire to emerge in the immediate future.
