Child dies in house fire that left 3 other relatives in critical condition, NC cops say

A young child was killed in a house fire that left three other family members in critical condition, North Carolina officials said.

Now, an arson investigation is underway, according to the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies took over the case after being called at about 2:45 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 21. The Westarea Fire Department responded to a burning home on Carlspond Road in the Linden area, near Fayetteville and roughly 45 miles south of Raleigh.

“At the time of the fire, the home was occupied by a family of four,” the sheriff’s office wrote in a news release. “All of them were transported to a local hospital.”

A child later died from fire-related injuries, officials said.

A photo that deputies shared on Facebook shows the blaze left part of the family’s home with missing walls and other damage.

Deputies continue to investigate whether the fire was intentionally set, but they said no evidence of foul play had been discovered as of about 8:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 910-321-6786 or Crimestoppers at 910-483-8477. People also can visit fay-nccrimestoppers.org or use the P3 Tips smartphone application.

The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office didn’t immediately share additional information with McClatchy News on Dec. 21.

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