THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 

                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, June 28, 1994                    TAG: 9406280398 
SECTION: LOCAL                     PAGE: B6    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: VIRGINIA BEACH 
DATELINE: 940628                                 LENGTH: Short

FIRE THAT KILLED 3 CHILDREN WAS SET ACCIDENTALLY BY CHILD

{LEAD} The fire that killed three children June 22 in a house on Choctaw Drive was set accidentally by one of the children playing with matches or a lighter, fire spokesman Mike Wade said Monday.

``The fire originated in a crawl space behind the children's bedroom that was accessible only by the children,'' Wade said.

{REST} The blaze killed Jessica Dozier, 2, Samantha Dozier, 3, and Richard Dozier, 4. The children's parents and an adult housemate escaped without injury. The home's only smoke detector did not have a battery.

{KEYWORDS} FIRES FATALITIES

by CNB