Boy, 3, dies in fire he started
Alameda County fire officials say a 3-year-old boy died in a fire he accidentally set inside his family’s home.
The child’s grandfather told firefighters the blaze started Thursday night when the youngster poked a piece of cardboard into the fireplace and then placed the burning object on a sofa bed.
The grandfather says he tried to extinguish the flames with a glass of water and a garden hose while the boy hid in the bathroom.
Firefighters found the house engulfed in flames and the boy not breathing when they arrived. The child was pronounced dead at a hospital less than an hour later.
The grandfather was treated for smoke inhalation and burns to his face. Authorities did not release their names.
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