ST. MARIES, ID – A 14-year-old St. Maries girl was killed in a house fire on Sunday. According to a press release from the Benewah County Sheriff’s Office, dispatchers received a call at approximately 11:20 p.m. of a residential fire in the area of 5th Street and Jefferson Avenue.
“St. Maries Fire, St. Maries Police Department, and the Benewah County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched and upon arrival the residence was fully engulfed along with two vehicles. First responders were also notified of a person still inside of the residence. St. Maries Fire requested emergency [aid] from surrounding fire stations including Emida Fire, Fernwood Fire, East Side Fire out of Harrison, and Plummer Gateway Fire,” Sheriff Anthony Eells says.
At approximately 11:43 p.m. the home to the north of the burning residence also caught on fire.
“Due to the amount of people trying to come into the scene where first responders were trying to work, more law enforcement was also requested by St. Maries Fire to help keep people away from the residences, fire trucks and equipment. Around this time a male attempted to take equipment off of a fire truck and pushed a firefighter and a police officer. The male was arrested on obstruction charges,” Eells says.
At approximately 12:39 a.m. the fire had gotten into the power lines and the utility company had to be dispatched to turn off the power at the residence. Tribal Police were called around this time to assist in crowd control.
By the early morning hours, the fire had been knocked down and first responders were able to recover a body that was inside of the residence.
In addition to the loss of her daughter Peyton, Renee Brusseau also lost the family dog.
An account has been set up in Brusseau’s name at P1FCU for donations. Financial help may also be dropped off or sent to Hodge Funeral Home in St. Maries.
