A coroner’s report states that playing with matches likely led to the death of eight-year-old Cody O’Connor in a motorhome fire in Oliver last year. Here, firefighters extinguish the fire in Centennial RV Park. File photo
A coroner’s report on the death of an eight-year-old Oliver boy found that playing with matches likely led to last year’s tragedy.
Cody O’Connor died after a motorhome fire in Centennial RV Park on August 28, 2013.
The report by coroner Jed Maddock states that O’Connor died of cardio respiratory failure due to septic shock as a result of inhalation of products of combustion.
After being pulled from the fire, O’Connor was airlifted to BC Children’s Hospital, where he was diagnosed with burns to 20 per cent of his body. He also suffered a severe hypoxic brain injury. His family moved him to Canuck Place Hospice centre where he passed away on September 13.
The coroner’s report detailed the events of the fire, stating that off-duty Fire Chief Dan Skaros and other campers noticed smoke coming from a motorhome in the park. Flames could be seen in the passenger side window area.
Skaros became aware that a child was still in the motorhome, but thick smoke prevented entry through the passenger side door.
The fire chief was able to gain access by breaking a window at the rear of the motorhome, where he suspected the boy was. Skaros leaned into the interior of the vehicle and located the boy and pulled him out to awaiting paramedic Dan Lyver.
“When Cody was located he was face down on a bed and unresponsive, wearing shorts and covered in soot,” Maddock said.
The coroner said O’Connor and his family lived in the motorhome, and the boy would occasionally remain in the vehicle while his mother worked in the RV park. On the day of the fire, the boy was being checked on every 30 minutes, Maddock reported.
“Cody had been seen previously using matches to light a paper cup on fire at the kitchen table inside the motorhome. After this incident, the matches had been hidden inside the motorhome.”
Maddock said there had been a fire extinguisher in the vehicle, however, it was not functioning at the time of the fire.
“There was no fire alarm or smoke detector system in the motorhome.”
The vehicle was examined by fire officials to determine the origin and cause of the fire. They reported the source appeared to be at the base of a couch behind the driver’s seat.
Maddock said there were no accelerants used, and there was no electrical wiring in this area.
“Fire officials reported the fire was accidental and likely caused by matches.”
The coroner classified O’Connor’s death as accidental and made no recommendations.
The boy became a household name following the tragedy, and many residents hailed Skaros as a hero. But he disagreed with that opinion, saying he did what he had to do as a firefighter.
“It’s just what I do,” he told the Chronicle.
At a fundraiser for the family, Skaros implored parents to teach their children about fire safety, especially about the dangers of playing with matches.
