CINCINNATI — An Ohio toddler who died in an apartment fire earlier this week may have accidentally sparked the blaze himself, authorities said.
Firefighters make the initial attack on Wade Walk this afternoon. Our citizens are everything to us. That we lost a life today due to fire is heartbreaking. We will not rest until all of our residents are safe from the ravages of fire. pic.twitter.com/shLPtw9Xkp
— Cincy Fire & EMS (@CincyFireEMS) February 23, 2021
According to The Associated Press and WLWT, Cincinnati Fire Department officials said Amari Campbell, 3, may have been lighting incense when a fire broke out Monday afternoon in his grandmother’s apartment near Wade Walk and Winchell Avenue in the city’s West End. Emergency crews responded to the scene shortly before 2:30 p.m. and found the child, who had suffered serious burns, under a bed, the AP reported. He later died at a nearby hospital.
#LATEST at 11PM: An entire community is wrapping its arms around the family of a 3-year-old boy who died after a tragic fire in the West End.
— Dan Griffin WLWT (@DanGriffinWLWT) February 24, 2021
Amari Campbell was pronounced dead after the fire at an apartment near Winchell Avenue and Wade Walk yesterday. #wlwt @wlwt pic.twitter.com/VazBs1LKGN
The boy’s grandmother also was inside the home when the fire began, but neighbors helped her to safety, according to the AP. The neighbors were not able to reach the child, authorities said.
Media Staging area for this incident is in the parking lot on Winchell near Ezzard Charles behind the fire line tape. pic.twitter.com/0BEOBedmVw
— Cincy Fire & EMS (@CincyFireEMS) February 22, 2021
Although no other people were hurt in the blaze, three residents of other apartments have been displaced, officials said.
The boy’s father, Robert Eubanks, has started a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for the funeral and other expenses.
“Daddy loves you, man,” Eubanks said of his son, according to WLWT. “I pray for you every minute and every second.”
– The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Cox Media Group