BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) — A deadly house fire in Garden Valley has been ruled as having an undetermined cause after an extensive investigation.
The Boise County Sheriff’s Office reports that a house fire that broke out on May 4 in Garden Valley claimed the life of a 15-year-old. A neighbor called 911 after spotting flames on the rear porch of a single-family home. The caller reported the fire as moving quickly through the structure and consuming the entire residence.
Unfortunately, the teen was spotted fleeing the area before re-entering the home through the front door. The speed and intensity of the flames trapped the teen inside, who succumbed to the smoke and fire before emergency crews could respond.
A nearby propane tank became overheated and began venting a “dangerous stream of fire.” Responding crews worked to cool the tank to prevent an explosion, though several smaller propane tanks inside the residence apparently did explode.
The State Fire Marshal Knute Sandahl responded to the scene. Sandahl says that “because of the extensive damage, we can only speculate on the fire’s origin. We do know the porch contained numerous boxes and personal items, as the homeowner and her grandson had recently moved in.”
The investigation remains open, though the official cause of the fire has been classified as undetermined due to the extent of the destruction, according to BCSO.