A Capitol Heights house fire that killed a 5-year-old girl and critically injured two more was the result of an overloaded electrical circuit, according to the Prince George’s County fire department.
The girl’s 24-year-old father and 15-year-old uncle were both in critical condition as of Thursday morning.
The three were napping upstairs when the fire broke out, officials said.
The father, awakened by the smoke alarm, was in the front yard suffering from serious burns when police arrived. He was unable to reach his daughter and brother. They were both trapped upstairs, officials said. All three were transported to the hospital, but the 5-year-old, identified as Jade Buffaloe, died soon after arrival.
Wednesday afternoon’s fire, which took 30 minutes to extinguish, started in the first-floor living room of the two-story brick duplex.
It appears to have been started by an air conditioner powered by an extension cord and a power strip, officials said.
Officials estimate $150,000 in damages.
The family in the attached home was also temporarily displaced, but suffered no serious damage, officials said.
The investigation is continuing.
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