By Maureen O’Donnell and Lisa Donovan
The Chicago Sun-Times
CHICAGO — A day after a South Side house fire claimed the life of a 2-year-old boy, police and fire investigators Sunday were trying to determine whether the blaze was sparked by children playing with a lighter.
Jaquin Roby died from carbon monoxide intoxication he suffered in the Saturday night fire at a home in the 5700 block of South Hoyne, according to an autopsy by the medical examiner’s office.
His death was ruled an accident, authorities said.
And while no official cause has been determined, authorities say they’re looking at the possibility that some children in the home were playing with a lighter and ignited a mattress.
The victim was home with several of his siblings at the time of the fire, according to police reports.
The toddler’s 14-year-old brother called 911 about 8:15 p.m. to report the blaze in the two-story frame house, police said.
When firefighters arrived, ''the front of the house was completely involved,’' said Fire Department spokesman Joe Roccasalva.
''There was a girl across the street saying her brother was inside,’' he said.
Firefighters found the 2-year-old in a bedroom and carried him outside. The boy was taken to Holy Cross Hospital, where he died.
Attempts to contact the boy’s family Sunday were unsuccessful.
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