New details have been revealed about the cause of a house fire that claimed the lives of five members of a Utah family of eight.
Nate Bird, 38, and four of his children, Addisyn, 15, Rayda, 11, Easton, nine, and five-year-old Francie, died on October 1 after flames engulfed their home in Riverdale, a city just north of Salt Lake City.
The fire began shortly before 2am as the family slept. All eight members were ultimately pulled from the burning building, but one child was pronounced dead at the scene.
Bird and three of his children later died at the hospital, where another child is still being treated for severe burns but is in stable condition.
Lindsey Bird, 37, and the family’s two eldest sons, 16-year-old Jayden and 15-year-old Teagan, survived the horrific incident, according to an online fundraiser.
Riverdale Fire Chief Matthew Hennessy has since revealed that the fire was started by a power strip that was plugged in near the front door, which, once ignited, caused flames to block the home’s main exit.
‘We’ve been investigating this active scene, and what we’ve uncovered is that we had a power strip that had malfunctioned, whether that be overheating or arced out,’ Hennessy told Gephardt Daily.
‘It was located in the front living room, and right by the door leading to outside the structure,’ he added.
Nate Bird, 38, and four of his children, Addisyn, 15, Rayda, 11, Easton, nine, and five-year-old Francie, died on October 1 after flames engulfed their home in Riverdale, Utah, while they slept
Francie, five, seen left, and Rayda, 11 seen right, both died in the fire, which was caused by a powerstrip that malfunctioned
The power strip was plugged in near the front door, causing the flames to block the home’s main exit. Addisyn, 15 seen left, and Easton, nine, seen right, were also both killed
The fire chief said that the flames spread rapidly around the first floor of the three-story house and quickly engulfed furniture, which fed the blaze.
In addition to blocking the main exits, the fire made accessing the stairs impossible, which impeded firefighters’ rescue efforts.
‘They had to utilize windows to prolong rescue efforts until the fire was mitigated,’ Hennessy said.
Nate had rescued his wife and one child before heroically running back into the home to save his other children who had become trapped in the fire, Shelia Noe, a family friend, wrote on Facebook.
Noe said that the surviving son who is being treated for severe burns suffered his injuries while trying to help rescue his siblings.
A neighbor named Isabella Villalbos told ABC4 that as the fire erupted, she heard a baby’s haunting screams.
‘It was terrifying. I cried, because we didn’t know what happened,’ Villalbos said.
David Messina, the family’s bishop, added that the Birds were a ‘salt of the earth family.’
Lindsey Bird, 37, and two of the couple’s eldest sons, 16-year-old Jayden and 15-year-old Teagan, survived the horrific incident
A family friend said Nate rescued his wife and one child before heroically running back into the home to save his other children who were trapped by the fire
Bird’s children had recently began fourth grade, sixth grade, eleventh grade and two started in the tenth grade. Their youngest daughter’s sixth birthday was just days away
‘[Nate] was a great friend of mine and just a good man. We are all heartbroken and deeply shocked by this tragic loss,’ he told the outlet.
‘Our love, thoughts and deepest prayers are with their family and loved ones at this difficult time.’
The community held a vigil on the evening of October 1 for the Bird family’s tragic loss.
Alex Acosta, one of the family’s neighbors, told ABC4: ‘It was super sad because I did get to see the mom [after the fire], and I feel so torn for her.
‘I felt it was super important to come for the vigil, because it shows how powerful the Riverdale community is. There was no color, no religion, no race. Everyone came for one thing and one thing only.
‘We’re all here to support the family and show awareness that everything can change in a moment.’
Lindsey Bird works as a teacher with the Weber School District and helped as a crossing guard every morning, Acosta told the outlet.
Bird’s children had recently begun fourth grade, sixth grade, eleventh grade and two started in the tenth grade. Their youngest daughter’s sixth birthday was just days away.
Lindsey and Nate were high school sweethearts after they met during their junior year
David Messina, the family’s bishop, said that the Birds were a ‘salt of the earth family’
Lindsey and Nate were high school sweethearts after they met during their junior year, according to longtime friend Molly Sickler.
‘I will never be able to fathom the pain and sadness of this loss. Nate was such a devoted boyfriend ( they met our junior year) husband, father, and member of their ward. They all were loved by all who knew them. Of course Lindsey and her two boys will continue to be loved,’ Sickler wrote on Facebook.
As of Monday, the GoFundMe for the family has raised over $29,000.
