A fire that killed a 3-year-old boy inside the family’s South Tacoma duplex has been ruled accidental.
Fire investigators said although combustible materials were found inside the home in the 6400 block of South Tyler Street, they cannot determine the exact cause of the May 25 blaze.
“The investigation centered around the possibility that the 3-year-old started the fire, but we were unable to determine that,” Tacoma Fire spokesman Joe Meinecke said.
Nehemiah Bonds and his mother were napping inside the home before the fire started about 3:45 p.m. The mom awoke to smoke and found a couch downstairs burning, according to the Fire Department.
She attempted to douse the flames and was eventually forced out of the home after trying unsuccessfully to find Nehemiah.