LA CENTER, WA (KPTV) -
Clark County fire investigators are looking into whether a family's use of a certain fabric softener played a role in rapidly-spreading flames that caused a 9-year-old girl to suffer second- and third-degree burns.
Atty Perrenoud was trying to light a candle Wednesday morning when her homemade flannel nightgown caught fire. She sprinted into the hallway, where her mother, Kelly Perrenoud, grabbed her and took her to the ground, then rolled her daughter on the floor to extinguish the burning clothes.
Nine-year-old Atty suffered burns across 75 percent of her body.
Fire investigators ruled out the involvement of accelerants, such as hair spray, in the fire. Instead, they're taking a closer look at the family's use of Downey fabric softener on the nightgown as a possible contributor to the clothes going up in flames so quickly.
Clark County Assistant Fire Marshal Richard Martin said Downey warns on its labels about the potential of increased flammability in some fabrics. The label specifically mentions not to use Downey on any flame-retardant or resistant clothing because it could degrade the garment's ability to resist catching fire. It also says prolonged use on some garments can actually increase the potential of flammability.
Investigators still haven't determined whether the fabric softener is to blame for the intensity of the fire.
Atty Perrenoud remains in critical condition at the Oregon Burn Center.
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