Bloomington fire officials say a November house fire in which a mother and her teenage son died was caused by an electrical cord buried under debris in the home.
The fire at 1205 Eastholme Ave. in the early morning hours of Nov. 26 claimed the lives of Tashika Stover, 40, and Hayden Stover, 17.
Firefighters noted the absence of smoke alarms inside and significant debris in the home, said Bloomington Fire Capt. Frank Friend, who is also the department's public information officer. He said that hampered firefighters' efforts to get hose lines into the home.
At the time, the fire department said the two victims were found in a portion of the home not directly affected by the fire and that the fire itself was relatively small.
The residence sustained smoke and water damage, with the most significant fire damage found in the living room and extending into the dining area, Friend said.
McLean County Coroner Kathy Yoder said the mother and son died of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Friend said smoke inhalation could have been mitigated by early smoke alarm notification, adding the fire department is actively working to reduce fire risks through public education.
“While the complete elimination of fire risks in the community is unlikely, proactive efforts can prevent many fires,” Friend said.
