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Boy Dies in Fire, Family Says He Was Playing With A Lighter

 Jackelyn Barnard  Taren Reed     Created: 7/3/2009 2:48:22 PM    Updated: 7/3/2009 4:59:47 PM
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JACKSONVILLE, FL -- The family of a three year old who died in a house fire on Thursday, says the child was playing with a lighter.

Keyontaye Poole's mother says her son was in the house with her. He had just left the room and about three minutes later someone yelled the house was on fire.

Tacara Love says she went looking for her son. "I heard him calling my name. That's the last thing I heard was my baby calling me, telling me momma. I couldn't get to him in the sofas. I ran outside and got a water hose and ran back into the house. The water pressure was no good."

Love says she tried to go back inside to rescue her son, but the smoke was too heavy. "It was pitch black. That's when I ran into my mother's backyard and said I know he gone, I know he gone."

Love says her son was alone inside a side bedroom. The family says the room was being used to store some sofas. "He's so little and fit through there, and I guess he lit the lighter," says his aunt, Jade Porter.

Keyontaye's mom says she did everything she could. She struggles with saying goodbye to her only son and explaining to his two sisters how he will not be coming home.

Love says she does have a little peace knowing her son is in a better place. "I know he's with God. God came and got him, and I know he's in a better place. We are all just gonna miss him."

Fire investigators have not ruled on what caused the fire. Investigators say they are waiting for autopsy results to come in before releasing more information.

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