House fire claims five-year-old boy

Authorities are investigating a structure fire at a residence in the Mars Hill community that claimed the life of a five-year-old boy early Thursday morning.

Sheriff Eric Clark identified the victim as Delvechio “D.J.” Coburn Jr.

According to Clark, emergency personnel were able to recover Coburn’s remains after knocking down a fire at his family’s residence on Road 737 on Thursday, Feb. 29.

Emergency personnel were called out at  5:04 a.m., Clark said, and they had the fire under control by about 7:30 that morning cleared the scene by 9:37 a.m.

Conburn’s mother had already left the home for work and Clark said his father and two siblings were able to escape the flames.

Clark said a pregnant female was transported to Neshoba General as a precautionary measure due to possible smoke inhalation.

An investigation has determined that the fire likely started in the laundry room and was electrical in nature.

The North Bend, Longingo, House, East Neshoba, Tucker volunteer fire departments, and the Philadelphia Fire Department responded to the scene.