Fire That Killed Louisiana Child Apparently Started in Kitchen

MONROE, La. (AP) -- A fatal house fire that killed a 10-year-old boy in the Tanglewood subdivision of Ouachita Parish apparently started in the kitchen, fire officials said.

Ouachita Parish fire investigator Greg Thompson identified the victim in Sunday's fire as Aaron J. Pearson.

His mother, Angelique Pearson-Brown, and four other family members in the house escaped.

Thompson said the severity of the blaze had initially prevented the fire department from determining its cause.

``We believe the origin was in the vicinity of the stove top,'' Thompson said. ``Unless we get further testimony from the mother later, we may not ever know the exact cause.''

Officials responded to the fire at 1:35 a.m. Sunday and found the home engulfed in flames. The heat was so intense that fire trucks had to park 100 feet away.