ANDERSON — Investigators say children playing with a lighter caused a fire that killed two young girls on New Year’s Eve.
Anderson Fire Department arson investigator Guy Bodenhorn said a preliminary investigation determined that two boys, ages 3 and 4, snuck a lighter into a bedroom where their sisters were sleeping, shut the door and accidentally started the blaze shortly after 11 p.m. Wednesday.
The girls, 2-year-old Hayley Bouslog and 1-year-old Jessica Bouslog, died in the fire. Seven other people living in the home at 420 W. Seventh St. escaped without injury.
The bedroom contained what Bodenhorn termed “ordinary combustibles,” common household items like clothing and furniture that fueled the fire.
He said more time was needed to determine if the house had been equipped with working smoke alarms. The full investigation may be completed by Wednesday.
Lighters, candles and stove knobs that children can easily turn on are some of the everyday things that can lead to major fire, Bodenhorn said.
“Fortunately, it wasn’t a gun,” he said, “but in this case, it was just as bad.”
By Friday afternoon, a pile of stuffed animals, toys and flowers had formed next to framed photos of the two victims on the sidewalk in front of the charred home.
The girls’ parents, Amanda and Jeff Bouslog, their three sons, Jeff’s mother, Darlene Bouslog, and her nephew Joe Bouslog are staying in the Anderson home of Amanda Bouslog’s father, William Gilliam.
The family lost all of their possessions in the fire, and Gilliam said donations and offers of assistance had started to pour in. His home phone number was busy for most of the day Friday.
“We’ve had several calls about places where they can rent,” Gilliam said, adding that the family, as of now, had “plenty of food.”
Funeral arrangements for the girls had not been set, Gilliam said, but the girls were to be buried together.
Along with already helping the family purchase emergency food and clothing, the Red Cross was offering help in the form of housing, rent assistance and emotional support, spokeswoman Ann Gregson said.
A relief fund for the Bouslog family has been established at National City Bank. Contributions can be made at any bank branch.
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