Officials: Deadly fire was accidental
A memorial for Andre Hyder has been set up under the band shell at Farmin Park. (Photo by KEITH KINNAIRD)
(Photo courtesy GOFUNDME.COM) Fundraising accounts have been set up to aid the families of Andre Hyder at www.gofundme.com.
(Photo courtesy CITY OF SANDPOINT)Fire investigators say a fire which claimed the life of a 2-year-old Sandpoint boy was accidental in nature. According to Monday press release, a preliminary autopsy shows the youngster died of smoke inhalation.
SANDPOINT — A preliminary investigation by the Idaho State Fire Marshal has determined Saturday’s fatal house fire was accidental.
An initial autopsy report also was released Monday and showed that Andre Hyder, 2, died from smoke inhalation as a result of the fire.
The investigation continues into the specific cause of the fire and results will be released later this week. Further toxicology tests are pending and final results will be released when available, city officials said in a press release late Monday afternoon.
The fire, which occurred at 620 E. Mountain View Drive in the northern part of the city, was discovered at 12:30 a.m. Saturday when Jaymes Hyder, the youngster’s father, and another adult awoke to flames with the house already fully engulfed. The pair were able to escape out a second-story window and call for help; however, because of the flames, they were unable to get to Andre. When firefighters were able to reach the boy, he was found deceased in his upstairs bedroom.
Andre’s mother, Tessa Potwin, also is a Sandpoint resident.
First responders were on scene of the fire, which was reported in a 911 call by a neighbor, within minutes and were advised Andre was still inside and the adults had been unable to get to him. When firefighters were able to reach the youngster, he was already deceased in his upstairs bedroom.
A coordinated response involving career and volunteer firefighters and engines from the Sandpoint, Dover and Sagle fire stations operating under Selkirk Fire was simultaneously dispatched to fight the fire.
Online fundraising campaigns are under way to assist the family of a 2-year-old child who perished in a house fire early Saturday morning.
Jaymes Hyder, the father of Andre Hyder, set up an account at gofundme.com seeking $30,000 in donations to help cover his son’s burial expenses. Shonna Moorman, meanwhile, established a fundraiser at the same site on behalf of Tessa Potwin, Andre’s mother. Moorman’s fundraising effort seeks $12,000 to help Potwin cover her family’s expenses.
“There are so many decisions to make regarding funeral expenses, etc. It’s unclear what will be covered and what won’t,” Moorman said in the gufundme.com post.
Jaymes Hyder’s fundraiser had collected $6,350 as of Monday afternoon, while Moorman’s amassed $3,117 toward its goal.
Selkirk Fire Rescue & EMS personnel were summoned to the 600 block of East Mountain View Drive on the city’s north side at approximately 12:30 a.m. Fire and city officials said two adults awoke in the burning two-story home. They tried to reach the boy, but were turned back by flames, officials said.
Firefighters found the boy deceased in an upstairs bedroom. A cause of death has not been released.
Meanwhile, a memorial for Andre Hyder has been set up under the band shell at Farmin Park. The memorial saw a stream of mourners and passersby, some of whom hugged each other.
Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.