Park service says boy started blaze that killed him, sister

KINGMAN, Ariz. -- An autistic boy who died with his sister in a house fire last summer on the southern edge of Lake Mead is believed to have ignited the blaze while playing with a Bic lighter, according to the National Park Service.

Agency spokesman Andrew Munoz disclosed new information about the tragedy Thursday, after the U.S. Attorney's Office declined to prosecute the parents who left five children without adult supervision while they were working for park service concessionaire Forever Resorts.

The July 19 fire destroyed a mobile home in the employee housing area at the Temple Bar Marina. Munoz said the Mohave County Medical Examiner determined that 9-year-old Micah Gnagy and 3-year-old Rowan Gnagy died of smoke inhalation.

Munoz said the parents relied upon their oldest child, a 10-year-old girl, to watch over her siblings while they were working. He said Micah had a known "habit of playing with fire."

Reading from a report that won't be made public until next week, Munoz said investigators base some of their findings on their interview with the 10-year-old survivor. The girl told authorities she called her mother while her brother tried to douse the flames in the burning home.

"She said that Micah had discharged a fire extinguisher located in the kitchen. She called her mom and told her what Micah had done," Munoz said. "As the sister was cleaning up, Micah discharged a second extinguisher and began running around the house. At that time the children in the living room screamed 'fire' and the older child called for everybody to get out but Micah wouldn't listen to her and Rowan, the sister, was in the bathroom."

Munoz said Rowan's body was found in the bathroom. He said Micah's body was found in the master bedroom, where a lighter that authorities believe was used to start the fire was located.

Munoz said he had to confer with others before knowing what could be said about a decision not to seek charges .

Darla Cook, spokeswoman for Forever Resorts, was unable to determine late Thursday whether the parents were still employed by the concession operator.