April 27, 2011 at 10:28 AM
VANCOUVER, Wash. -- A fire at a Vancouver home that killed a man and five of his children was set by the man because he was distraught over his bankruptcy and a recent failed marriage, as first reported in The Oregonian.
The newspaper reports that Tuan Dao and his six children were living in the foreclosed home, sleeping in a tent pitched in the living room.
Wednesday morning, police said they believe the fire was intentionally set by Tuan Dao, 37, with liquid fuels that caused an explosion and an extremely hot, fast-moving fire.
Police also confirmed the victims in the fire. They said Dao died, along with five of his children: Nathan, 6; Samantha, 8; Nolan, 12; and nine-year-old twins, Noah and Jacob. Dao's estranged wife and their sixth child were not in the home when it burned.
Police said six bodies were found inside the burned rubble. The Clark County medical examiner's office was performing autopsies Monday to determine what caused the deaths.
Neighbors said the entire Vietnamese family lived in the home at 15304 NE 13th Circle until about a month ago, when the couple split up.
Counselors were on hand at Hearthwood Elementary School, Harmony Elementary and the Vancouver middle school, where the children attended classes.
Hot, explosive fire moved fast
Residents of the Vancouver neighborhood said they were awakened by an explosion about 1:30 a.m. Sunday as the fire tore through the single story home in the 15000 block of NE 13th Circle.
The flames were brought under control around 2 a.m.
Alicia Molina said, "You could really feel it. The walls shook."
"My husband ran out to see if he could help if anyone was in the house. He said already the heat was coming out so he couldn't get up to the door," Molina added.
"I ran out barefoot," said Kathy Larsen, who lives next door. "The flames were just intense and people were yelling that it could blow again. We were all yelling and trying to get the occupants awake."
Neighbor Jon Himes, who lives two houses away, told The Columbian his surveillance camera recorded a man going into the residence at 12:38 a.m. Police planned to study that video.
"The blast happened exactly one hour later," he said.
Vancouver Fire Capt. Chris Moen said 20 firefighters with 11 rigs fought the fire.
The blaze was under control at 2:06 a.m. Moen said the house has extensive damage. The fire apparently broke out in the back bedroom on the east side.
"This (fire) has left a mark on everybody who is working on it," Moen said.
VANCOUVER, Wash. -- A fire at a Vancouver home that killed a man and five of his children was set by the man because he was distraught over his bankruptcy and a recent failed marriage, as first reported in The Oregonian.
The newspaper reports that Tuan Dao and his six children were living in the foreclosed home, sleeping in a tent pitched in the living room.
Wednesday morning, police said they believe the fire was intentionally set by Tuan Dao, 37, with liquid fuels that caused an explosion and an extremely hot, fast-moving fire.
Police also confirmed the victims in the fire. They said Dao died, along with five of his children: Nathan, 6; Samantha, 8; Nolan, 12; and nine-year-old twins, Noah and Jacob. Dao's estranged wife and their sixth child were not in the home when it burned.
Police said six bodies were found inside the burned rubble. The Clark County medical examiner's office was performing autopsies Monday to determine what caused the deaths.
Neighbors said the entire Vietnamese family lived in the home at 15304 NE 13th Circle until about a month ago, when the couple split up.
Counselors were on hand at Hearthwood Elementary School, Harmony Elementary and the Vancouver middle school, where the children attended classes.
Hot, explosive fire moved fast
Residents of the Vancouver neighborhood said they were awakened by an explosion about 1:30 a.m. Sunday as the fire tore through the single story home in the 15000 block of NE 13th Circle.
The flames were brought under control around 2 a.m.
Alicia Molina said, "You could really feel it. The walls shook."
"My husband ran out to see if he could help if anyone was in the house. He said already the heat was coming out so he couldn't get up to the door," Molina added.
"I ran out barefoot," said Kathy Larsen, who lives next door. "The flames were just intense and people were yelling that it could blow again. We were all yelling and trying to get the occupants awake."
Neighbor Jon Himes, who lives two houses away, told The Columbian his surveillance camera recorded a man going into the residence at 12:38 a.m. Police planned to study that video.
"The blast happened exactly one hour later," he said.
Vancouver Fire Capt. Chris Moen said 20 firefighters with 11 rigs fought the fire.
The blaze was under control at 2:06 a.m. Moen said the house has extensive damage. The fire apparently broke out in the back bedroom on the east side.
"This (fire) has left a mark on everybody who is working on it," Moen said.
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