A seven months old baby boy has died following a fire that occurred at a house at Upper New Montrose on the weekend.
According to police a 15×30 two storey concrete dwelling house was partially damaged by fire on Friday January 26, 2018.
The ground floor of the house was occupied by Ms. Tamara Lavia, a 28 year old domestic of the same address and her four young children: Itika Lavia, a 6 year-old student, Apploniyia Lavia, age 3, Simonique Lavia, age 1 and 7-months old Simrique, while the upper floor is occupied by Casilda Bobb and her two children.
The four young children were reportedly left alone at home in a bedroom with a single candle burning on a chest of drawers while their mother went to Heritage Square, a popular night spot in Kingstown.
Based on the hypothesis from the Fire Department, the lighted candle started a fire about 10:15pm in the bedroom where the children were.
The Fire Department was able to contain the fire on arrival at the scene and expresses appreciation to the persons who used buckets of water to try and contain the fire prior to their arrival.
According to Police, the eldest child Itika ran out of the house to seek help and escaped unhurt as a result. However, Apploniyia and Simonique received light burns about their bodies while Simrique the baby sustained ninety percent burns about his body. He succumbed to his injuries at 4:10 am at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital later the same day.
The children’s mother Tamara Lavia was arrested and charged on Sunday January 28 at about 6:30pm and was expected to appear before the Serious Offences court yesterday.
A post mortem will be done on Simrique’s body to ascertain the cause of death.
