4-Year-Old Dies, Two Other Children Injured In Houlton Fire

The Maine Department of Public Safety says the state Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating a fire that claimed the life of a 4-year old boy and sent two other children to the hospital this morning.

On Thursday, police identified the deceased boy as Tiami Pinkham. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined his cause of death as smoke inhalation.

The three children (Tiami, his 4-year-old twin sister and a 12-year-old boy) were home alone Wednesday morning when the fire broke out, according to police.

"On Wednesday, March 23, 2022 at approximately 9:17 a.m. the Houlton Fire Department responded to a fire at a 3 story multi-unit building, primarily made up of residential apartments located at 5 Mechanics Street in Houlton. A 4-year-old boy is deceased, a 4-year-old girl was treated at Houlton Regional Hospital for smoke inhalation, and a 12-year-old boy was transported by Lifeflight to Maine Medical Center in Portland to be treated for burn injuries. He is expected to recover."

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Moss says fire crews from multiple surrounding fire departments assisted the Houlton Fire Department in putting out the blaze, including Littleton, Hodgdon, Linneus, and  Monticello Fire Departments.  Aroostook County EMA, Houlton Police Department, Aroostook County Sheriff’s Department, and the US Customs and Border Protection also provided help. Firefighters are expected to be on scene throughout the evening, to help keep things under control.

One firefighter was treated for a breathing-related issue at a nearby hospital.

The investigation into the incident is ongoing.