A 4-year-old boy injured in a “suspicious” has died in the blaze that consumed his family’s room and also left his 2-year-old sister dead.
The El Paso County Coroner’s Office has ruled both died of smoke inhalation. The manner of their death is pending additional police investigation, according to authorities.
The children’s mother, also injured in the fire, remains in critical condition Monday and a third sibling, a 10-year-old, is stable, police Lt. Catherine Buckley said. The two are receiving medical care at Denver-area hospitals, officials say.
“We don’t have the cause of the fire yet,” Buckley said. “It is suspicious.”
The fire broke out at the Ranch Motel on the 3900 block of North Nevada Avenue. Officials said flames consumed a room where the family was living.
Police say an investigation into the fire is still ongoing and is expected to be “lengthy” because of the nature and severity of the fire.
“It could be awhile to have the items analyzed and have the information received back on that,” Buckley said.
Authorities have not named the two children killed in the blaze or their mother.
Some 34 firefighters responded to the fire at the 21-unit motel.
Jesse Paul: 303-954-1733, jpaul@denverpost.com or twitter.com/JesseAPaul
