Maine house fire claims life of five-year-old boy

scene of Tuesday's fatal fire in South Paris, Maine. (Courtesy photo)

SOUTH PARIS, Maine - A 5-year-old boy who died in a house fire on Tuesday in South Paris has been identified as Alek Packard, according to the state's Chief Medical Examiner.

The autopsy done on Wednesday determined the child did "sustain injuries as a result of the fire." The cause of death is pending due to further testing, however foul play is not suspected.

An investigative team will return to the scene today to continue its investigation into the cause.

The fire broke out around 1:45 p.m. on Tuesday at a home at 31 Nichols Street in South Paris. Once on scene, firefighters determined that a woman had been inside the residence with her three children, a 5-year-old boy and two girls, ages three and nine months. The mother was able to get her two younger children out of the house but not the five year old.

Firefighters located the boy inside the residence unresponsive. He was transported to a local hospital but succumbed to his injuries and did not survive.