The fire at the residence located at 515 N. Wisconsin St. in Mitchell, SD on April 23, 2020 appears to have been caused by children at the residence who played with a cigarette lighter. Three children, ages 4, 6 and 7, appear to have been left alone inside the residence for approximately one hour prior to the fire. A neighbor and his friend entered 515 N. Wisconsin St. at the time of the fire and removed 2 of the children from the residence and attempted to remove the third child, age 6, from the residence. The men were not able to rescue the third child due to the heat and smoke caused by the fire. Responding Officers also attempted to rescue the child but were unable to do so. Fire Fighters found the deceased child inside the residence and were unable to save her life. The surviving children were placed into protective custody.
Charges could be brought against the person who left the children alone inside of the residence.
This investigation is ongoing and being conducted by the Mitchell Police Division, the Mitchell Fire Division, The South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation and the South Dakota State Fire Marshall’s Office.