Investigators say a power strip overheated and started the Riverdale, Utah, house fire that killed five members of the Bird family on October 1.
Here's what to know
According to Riverdale Fire Chief Matthew Hennessy, investigators determined the Weber County house fire began with an overheated power strip located in the front room near the entry.
In its report, KUTV said investigators used an accelerant detection canine to examine the burned home before finding the power strip. The dog did not detect accelerants, and investigators did not find evidence the fire was intentionally set.
Hennessy said, "Preliminary, (it's) looking like this is going to be an accidental electrical fire, and I don't believe it's something that was human-caused."
Two adults and six children were inside the Riverdale home near 4600 South and 1150 West when the fire began. By the time firefighters arrived, the house was fully involved, and several family members remained trapped.
The father and three of his children were killed in the fire, and another child later died from injuries suffered in the blaze. Officials later identified the victims as members of the Bird family, while the mother and two other children survived.
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Officials also told KUTV that a loud boom neighbors heard during the blaze was unrelated to the incident.
Where can I learn more?
House fires can start quickly with everyday equipment and end in tragedy, especially when incidents occur overnight or in inconspicuous locations. These stories look at major fires linked to electrical systems.
• Across the eastern U.S., 13,000 recalled AC units can ignite even when switched off.
• In West Sussex, England, officials said lithium-ion batteries left charging are fueling more house fires.
• In Texas, investigators said Xcel Energy equipment helped spark the destructive Smokehouse Creek fire.
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