Death of mother, son raise Riddle house fire toll to 6

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -Authorities say a woman and her 13-year-old son who were critically injured in a rural southern Oregon house fire have died, raising the death toll to six.

Erin Patrick with the Multnomah County Medical Examiner’s Office told The Associated Press that 38-year-old Tabitha Howell and 13-year-old Andrew Hall-Young both died at a Portland hospital Thursday afternoon.

Patrick said both died from injuries sustained in the early Wednesday fire that also killed four children ages 4 to 13.

James Howell remained at the hospital Thursday for treatment of critical burns.

Fire officials say a portable space heater too close to combustibles was to blame.

An aunt of the children said they were “kind, outgoing and full of joy.”

Heather Hendrick said Thursday that she last saw her nieces and nephews in January for a post-Christmas family dinner.

Heather Hendrick is married to Tabitha Howell’s step-brother.

She said Tabitha Howell served in the U.S. Navy and worked at a day care center. She also was studying at the Revivalist School of Ministry operated by Garden Valley Church.

Riddle Fire Protection District Chief Rich Holloway said Thursday on the fire district’s Facebook page that the fire was caused by combustible materials placed too close to the heater.

The authenticity of the post was confirmed by City Manager Kathy Wilson.

Holloway said a component of the family’s fireplace that circulated heated air back into the house had malfunctioned several days before.

The family bought the space heater to stay warm until they could get the fireplace repaired.

A candlelight vigil at a church in Riddle drew more than 300 people Wednesday evening.

Family members have set up a Gofundme page for the family’s medical bills and funeral costs.