Alabama Boy Playing With Cigarette Lighter Likely Started Fire That Killed Him, Baby Brother

A 4-year-old in Alabama accidentally started a house fire that killed him and his toddler brother, while likely playing with a butane cigarette lighter, authorities said Monday.

The tragic incident took place in Irvington in southwestern Alabama on Aug. 24 when a mattress in the children's bedroom caught fire. While investigating the fire, the Mobile County Sheriff's Office recovered the notorious lighter from next to the mattress, reported NBC News, citing the Associated Press.

The deceased children, identified as Liam Barnes and his 2-year-old brother, Noah Gordon, died of smoke inhalation and heat-related burns, autopsy results indicated.

An investigation revealed Barnes lit the lighter playfully which, in turn, ignited their bed and filled the room with smoke and heat. The children were on their own at that time as their mother had walked next door to a neighbour's place for a short time, AL.com reported.

The children's mother, Kali Sherman, was alarmed to see thick smoke pouring from the residence and rushed inside. Sherman was able to bring her 10-month-old son, who was in his crib, to safety, but failed to save the two other boys, according to KMVT 11. After the fire personnel arrived at the house, they found Gordon lying unresponsive inside a closet.

It wasn't clear in what condition deputies found Barnes. Both Barnes and Gordon were flown to a hospital, where they were declared dead.

The sheriff's office said in the statement the smoke detectors inside the children's bedroom weren't working. The police determined no foul play or criminal activity was involved in the case. The Mobile County District Attorney's office was consulted, and no criminal charges were filed.

In April, a 15-year-old boy in Georgia was arrested after he intentionally started a fire to his home, killing his younger sister. When emergency officers reached the site, they found the house completely overwhelmed by smoke, with the two minors trapped inside. After deputies managed to douse the fire, which had by then caused extensive damage to the property, they found the teen's 10-year-old sister dead inside. While rummaging through the charred debris, deputies found the teen suspect locked in a separate room, uninjured. Two cats were also found dead in the house. The 15-year-old boy was arrested and charged with felony murder and malice murder, and an additional arson charge was pending the result of an investigation. The girl's death was being investigated as a homicide.