Chief: Fire caused by child playing with matches

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) -- Fire officials have pinpointed the cause of a house fire that sent four members of a Providence family to the hospital, two of which remain in critical condition.

Flames broke out just after 10 p.m. Sunday on the second floor of a duplex located at 175 Virginia Ave.

As a result, two adults and two children were rushed to area hospitals to be treated for smoke inhalation and burns.

"It was pretty much confined to the room of origin and smoke damage for the most part," said Providence Fire Captain Frank Silva.

Christopher Husband, 43, suffered second- and third-degree burns to 30 percent of his body, and is currently in a medically induced coma. His son, Christophe Etienne, 5, suffered second- and third-degree burns to 80 percent of his body and is also in a medically induced coma.

The state fire marshal said the mother and daughter suffered less severe injuries, and an adult daughter living at the home was not taken to the hospital.

An investigation into the cause of the fire revealed that Christophe was playing with matches in a second-floor bedroom, where there was no smoke detector. Investigators believe Husband rushed into the room to save the 5-year-old.

"It's unfortunate. People need to be conscientious about where they leave matches and lighters. They need to make sure they put them away locked up so they're out of reach of children," said Officer Silva.

The resident on the other side of the duplex, whose girlfriend owns the building, said they were next door at the time of the fire, but their side was not affected by the flames.