Oregon Wildfire: Boy With Dog on His Lap Found Dead Inside Car

By M.G. Alison. First Posted: Sep 12, 2020 06:12 AM EDT

The Oregon wildfire has caused the death of a 13-year-old boy, who was found dead inside a car with his dog on his lap on Tuesday in Marion County.

Wyatt Tofte and his dog were found in a car after a long search. His family assumed he ran into the car, probably thinking it would protect him and his dog from the raging fire surrounding them.

Tofte and his dog were not the only casualties in the family as his grandmother, 71-year-old Peggy Mosso, also died inside another car, which was engulfed by flames as her daughter Angela, Wyatt's mother, was trying to save her.

Angela survived but was in critical condition after she suffered full-body burns. Her husband, Chris, also survived the Oregon wildfire.

Chris had searched for his family while the fire was raging on around them. He later found his wife, whom he did not recognize at first, wandering along the road to their house.

He had even told her that he was searching for his wife and son, to which Angela replied that she was his wife.

A family statement on a CNN report said that they are devastated over Wyatt's loss, whom they described as kind-hearted, and his beloved grandmother.

A spokesperson for the Tofte family, Susan Vaslev, described Wyatt as the sweetest little boy who loved to fish and play video games. He was not only sweet but polite as well, added Vaslev.

The statement also said that they want to thank all emergency personnel and other people who helped in the search. They also said that their family appreciates the love and support that they have received during this terrible tragedy.

According to a Global News report, a total of four people, including Tofte and Mosso, have died in the Washington state and Oregon wildfire. About 20 have also died middle of August in wildfires in the California state.

The Oregon wildfire had almost destroyed the two small Phoenix and Talen cities that are home to 11,000.

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown said the death toll could grow from four because many people have been reported missing.

The fire prompted about 500,000 or one in every eight residents to be placed under an evacuation order while firefighters continued fighting against the blaze.

The Oregon wildfire razed thousands of homes in just a matter of days and burned more than one million acres in the state. However, Brown reported that the weather, which caused the fast widespread of the fire, has finally improved and is a big help to the firefighters, according to a report on the Oregon Live.

Fire protection chief at the Oregon Department of Forestry Doug Grafe said that firefighting teams continue to battle 16 large fires. But they are succeeding because of cooler temperatures and more moisture in the air.

Their fight against the Oregon wildfire is bound to progress as improved weather is predicted to continue until early next week.