What to Know
- Firefighters were called to the 8100 block of Arcade Street shortly after 5 p.m. Tuesday.
- Neighbors frantically tried to save the little boy before firefighters arrived.
- Three men and one woman were taken from the scene with non-life-threatening injuries.
The 5-year-old boy who was killed in a fire in Lorton, Virginia, had been playing with a lighter before the blaze, Fairfax County fire officials say.
Firefighters were called to the 8100 block of Arcade Street shortly after 5 p.m. Tuesday for reports of a fire. When crews arrived, they learned the little boy was trapped inside the home's garage.
He has been identified as Stellan Lotuno, Fairfax County fire officials said Wednesday afternoon.
Investigators believe the boy was playing with a lighter when the fire started.
"The mom was there, and she was frantically calling for her child," said neighbor Derek Ganley.
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Ganley was one of many neighbors who tried to enter the garage to save the child. Ty Harrington, a retired firefighter, and another neighbor who works for the fire department tried to get inside the house to make a rescue. They were pushed back by smoke.
"It's pretty unique to see that many people jump in to help," Harrington said.
Battalion Chief Will Bailey said the firefighters tried to aggressively attack the fire through the house but were pushed back. After putting out the fire, they did a search and discovered the boy's body in the garage.
Two dogs and three pet birds also died in the fire.
Three men and one woman were transported from the scene with non-life-threatening injuries. Two other dogs were rescued.