SOUTH SALT LAKE, Utah—
A two alarm fire at a South Salt Lake apartment complex killed a 10-year-old boy Monday afternoon. The fire started at about 12:30 p.m. in a downstairs apartment at 236 East Royal Garden Terrace, near 3560 South and later spread to the upstairs apartment. South Salt Lake Fire Chief Steve Foote said the boy, Jackson Avery, was found dead in front of a couch in the living room of the downstairs apartment while crews were evacuating residents from the Royal Gardens Apartments building. Officials believe the boy died from burns and smoke inhalation.The blaze was too intense for firefighters to get immediately inside the apartment where Avery was trapped. Foote said the boy tried to escape, but died before crews made it into the apartment. The mother and older brother of the boy were also inside the apartment at the time of the fire and were treated by emergency crews on the scene for smoke inhalation.
"In this case there was no difference we could have made in this fire; neither could the mother or the brother," said Foote. "Right now, my heart is with them."
Several neighbors also reported hearing a loud boom before the fire erupted. Some neighbors believe the sound came from an exploding propane tank. The Salt Lake Fire Department has not confirmed yet if there was an explosion and if the explosion caused the fire.
Investigators said the fire appears to be accidential and started in the corner of a room near an artificial christmas tree.
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