New details have emerged about the cause of a Utah house fire that killed five members of an eight-person family.
Nate Bird, 38, and four of his children—15-year-old Addisyn, 11-year-old Rayda, nine-year-old Easton and five-year-old Francie—died on October 1 after fire swept through their home in Riverdale, a city just north of Salt Lake City.
The blaze broke out shortly before 2am while the family was asleep. All eight people were eventually removed from the burning house, but one child was pronounced dead at the scene.
Bird and three of his children later died in hospital. Another child remains hospitalized with severe burns but is in stable condition.
Lindsey Bird, 37, and the couple’s two oldest sons, 16-year-old Jayden and 15-year-old Teagan, survived the devastating fire, according to an online fundraiser.
Riverdale Fire Chief Matthew Hennessy said investigators determined that the fire began with a malfunctioning power strip near the home’s front door. Once it caught fire, the flames blocked the 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 Riverdale, Utah, home while they slept
Francie, five, pictured left, and 11-year-old Rayda, pictured right, both died in the fire, which investigators said was caused by a malfunctioning power strip
The power strip was plugged in near the front door, allowing the flames to block the home’s main exit. Addisyn, 15, pictured left, and Easton, nine, pictured right, were also killed
Hennessy said the fire spread quickly across the first floor of the three-story house, where furniture fueled the rapidly intensifying blaze.
The flames not only blocked the primary exits but also made the stairs inaccessible, complicating firefighters’ attempts to reach the family.
“They had to utilize windows to prolong rescue efforts until the fire was mitigated,” Hennessy said.
Family friend Shelia Noe wrote on Facebook that Nate had rescued his wife and one child before returning to the burning house in an attempt to save his other children, who were trapped inside.
Noe said the surviving son now being treated for severe burns was injured while trying to help rescue his siblings.
Neighbor Isabella Villalbos told ABC4 that she heard a baby’s haunting screams as the fire erupted.
“It was terrifying. I cried, because we didn’t know what happened,” Villalbos said.
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David Messina, the family’s bishop, described the Birds as a “salt of the earth family.”
Lindsey Bird, 37, and two of the couple’s oldest sons, 16-year-old Jayden and 15-year-old Teagan, survived the devastating 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.