Badin Toddler Dies in House Fire

STANLY COUNTY, N.C. — A house fire in Stanly county claims the life of a three-year-old boy. Investigators are still looking into what sparked that fire.

Meanwhile, neighbors say they are shocked to learn what happened.

“I woke up this morning, I saw smoke and sirens and the house was already engulfed,” says Carl Greer.

Witnesses watched as firefighters worked to put out the blaze.

Stanly County Fire Chief Michael Roark said, “911 call that said there was possibly still a child inside the residence. Fire crews initiated their fire attack and search, and the child was found.”

Once inside, crews found the body of three-year-old Ja’zyion Harris. Officials say the toddler was trapped inside, and alive when the fire started. He died from injuries he sustained in the fire.

His mother was home at the time, but able to get out.

“Made me think of my grandchildren and my great grandchildren. It’s just a loss, and I hate it happened,” said Herman Branding.

Neighbors say the toddler and his two siblings, who were at school at the time, often played in the yard and will be missed.

“God have mercy, all I can say, may Lord have mercy. Tragic for anybody lose anybody, especially a child,” says Greer.