A child playing with matches started the Jan. 6 house fire that led to the death of a 2-year-old boy, a spokesman for the Indiana Department of Homeland Security said. The fire was set intentionally, but there was no malicious intent.
The investigation from the Indiana State Fire Marshal is now closed because the cause and location of the fire have been identified, the spokesman said.
The Sunday fire caused significant damage to the home on South Tyler Lane. There were no working smoke alarms inside the house, the spokesman said.
Of the two adults and five children inside the home at the time of the fire, one young boy died.
Monroe County Coroner Joani Shields said she suspects the body is that of Kenneth Lane Jr. However, she said she can’t positively identify the body found at the scene without a DNA test, according to state law.
A GoFundMe was created for funeral costs.
