5-year-old killed in Cumberland County house fire, 2 others injured
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, N.C. (WTVD) -- A 5-year-old boy died and two other people were injured in a house fire that broke out in Cumberland County.
The fire started at a home on Murphy Road.
When Eastover Fire Department arrived, firefighters found heavy smoke coming from the house. They quickly learned the boy was inside the home and had not been able to escape.
"It's a really tragic situation," neighbor Robert Kelly said.
Despite firefighters' best efforts, the 5-year-old died inside the burning home.
Marion Steffen told ABC11 her great-grandson was the 5-year-old who died in the fire. She identified him as Kevin Steffan.
She said Kevin was home with his sister and his grandmother, while his parents were at work.
The sister, who is 4 months old, had to be airlifted to North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill. The grandmother was also injured; she was taken to Cape Fear Valley Hospital for treatment.
Investigators have not yet determined a cause of the fire, but according to the family, the 5-year-old had turned on an indoor s'mores maker shortly before the fire broke out.
Kelly said the tragedy will have a lasting impact on the local community.
"I would like to give them my condolences and let them know that we're going to be praying for them."
