Baby Killed in Fire Started by Brother

An infant boy died Thursday in a fire apparently sparked by his 4-year-old brother who was playing with matches when they were left alone in a Lincoln Heights apartment, police said.

Detective Richard Kellenberger said the victim, 10-month-old Bernabe Rodriguez, and his brother had been left alone shortly after noon in the apartment on the 2500 block of North Daly Street when the older brother started the fire. When the flames spread, the older boy ran to tell the apartment manager.

Kellenberger said the manager could hear the baby crying, “but the flames were so hot he couldn’t reach him.”

The detective, who declined to name the rest of the family, said a report on the incident would be provided to the district attorney’s office to determine if child endangerment charges should be filed.