2nd Boy Hurt in New Year’s Eve House Fire Dies

A Val Verde boy critically burned in a New Year’s Eve house fire died of heart failure Sunday morning, the day after his 17-year-old half-brother succumbed to similar injuries.

Patrick Crawford, 7, who suffered third-degree burns over 65% of his body, was pronounced dead at 6:25 a.m. after doctors at the Grossman Burn Center at Sherman Oaks Hospital worked for more than an hour to revive him, said spokesman Larry Weinberg.

“He was a gracious, warm and even-tempered child,” said William Epps, the boy’s pastor at the Second Baptist Church in Los Angeles, where he often attended church services with his aunt. “His family is just trying to cope with this calamity and tragedy.”

The blaze, which broke out around 8:15 a.m. Thursday in the 29000 block of Val Verde Road, also claimed the life of Patrick’s half-brother Sean Williams, who died Saturday after an operation to ease blood flow within his badly burned body.

Williams’ former girlfriend, Patricia Lynn Martin, 20, who lived at the Val Verde home, was listed in critical condition at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center with burns over 18% of her body.

Also hurt in the blaze was the victims’ aunt, Dawn Carter, 45, who fractured her ankle jumping from the second story of the four-bedroom home to escape the flames. Lisa Reese, the mother of the two boys, was at work at a bank when the fire broke out, neighbors said.

Those who knew Patrick described him as an affable and energetic boy who also showed remarkable poise for his age.

“He was a real good kid,” said James Goodell, whose 7-year-old son was Patrick’s best friend. “If he had ice cream or candy, he would bring it over and offer it to my 2- and 4-year-old girls. His consciousness was about sharing, and he always had a smile on his face.

“They had a strong family unit,” Goodell said. “I don’t think the full impact has hit everyone because they are all in shock. It’s one thing when it’s a fire. But it’s particularly tragic when two innocent boys are dead.”

Patrick’s pastor, recalling a gathering at the church on Christmas Eve, said Patrick was the only youngster to offer testimony before the congregation.

“He thanked God for his family,” Epps said of Patrick, a member of the church choir. “He thanked God for being good to him.”

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Los Angeles County investigators gave differing accounts of the cause of the blaze with fire officials restating their assessment that it accidentally started around the family Christmas tree.

Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials plan to resume their investigation today to determine if the fire was intentionally set.