Bronx Fire Occurred After Christmas Tree Was Ignited By Lighter — U.S. Officials

In the deadly Bronx fire that killed 12 in Philadelphia, United States, officials have revealed that it most likely started when a Christmas tree was ignited by a lighter.

Authorities disclosed on Tuesday that they reached their conclusion after interviewing a five-year-old who survived the fire and accordingly ruled out all other possible explanations.

According to the Associated Press, a search warrant was issued last week and it showed that authorities were looking into the possibility that a five-year-old was playing with a lighter when a nearby Christmas tree was ignited.

The fire commissioner, Adam Thiel said on Tuesday that "We are left with the words of a traumatized five-year-old child, to help us understand how the lighter and the tree came together with tragic consequences."

The child was one of the only two survivors of the fire incident. The fire attack which happened last week killed 12 people, including nine children.