An overloaded extension cord was the cause of a fire that killed a Maryland grandmother and her young grandson last week, investigators say.
Bernice Washington, 68, and her grandson, 6-year-old Zavion Atkins, died in the fire that tore through their Waldorf home Oct. 14.
Fire investigators have determined that the blaze was caused by an electrical failure due to an overloaded extension cord, authorities said Tuesday. The fire began in a hallway between the victims' bedrooms, they said.
Someone from inside the home called 911 shortly after 12:30 a.m. that night. Firefighters from La Plata, Waldorf and Charles County arrived to find heavy fire throughout the house on Poplar Hill Road.
Four other residents safely escaped the fire when they heard a smoke detector go off, but the bodies of the grandmother and grandson were found inside the home.
Authorities said the victims died of smoke inhalation and thermal burn injuries.
The home was heavily damaged in the blaze.
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Relatives have set up a GoFundMe to raise money for expenses stemming from the tragedy. The fundraising effort collected more than $13,000 by early Tuesday afternoon.
Zavion was in first grade at Malcolm Elementary School in Waldorf.
"The things that he'd say would just make you laugh," relative Cynthia Douglas said. "You just never knew what he was going to say. I love him. I'm truly going to miss him."
