Infant killed in car fire near Tumwater, Thurston Co. Sheriff's Office says

A 5-month-old infant was killed in a car fire near Tumwater Tuesday afternoon, the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office announced.

Firefighters were dispatched to the vehicle at 12:10 p.m., according to a news release.

The car was reportedly engulfed in flames with the infant still inside the vehicle in a car seat. The car was parked at the family’s home in the 300 block of 93rd Avenue Southeast.

The father and his three children – ages 12, 2 and 5-months – were preparing to leave their home when the father left the vehicle running and went back inside the residence.

The children remained inside the car, according to the release.

Smoke then began to fill the vehicle. The 12-year-old was able to remove the 2-year-old before alerting his father inside the house. When they came back outside, the car was engulfed in flames.

The father and several neighbors attempted to extinguish the car fire. Despite these attempts, the 5-month-old infant died in the fire.

The children, father and neighbors suffered injuries and were transported to an area hospital, according to the release.

The cause of the fire remains unknown.

Thurston County Sheriff’s Office detectives are working with local fire departments and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to investigate the fire.

Federal agents were called on because of their expertise in examining vehicle fires, Sheriff’s Lt. Cameron Simper said.

He added that no explosives or guns were found.