The fire, which occurred early in the morning on Sunday, Nov. 20, killed Clearlake residents 55-year-old James Gerace and 14-year-old Daniel Critser, and injured 43-year-old Michelle Critser of Clearlake and her 4-year-old son, David, according to reports from friends and information from the Humboldt County Coroner’s Office.
“It’s just a terrible tragedy,” said Humboldt County Coroner Dave Parris.
Parris said the fire was reported at approximately 1:38 a.m. at an RV park on Patricks Point Road in Trinidad.
Gerace and his girlfriend, Michelle Critser, had gone on a camping trip with her sons Daniel and David in the 1980s motorhome, which Parris said the family had recently purchased.
Michelle Critser and her young son were able to escape through a side window, but not before both were burned. Parris said the little boy had burns over 40 percent of his body.
Gerace used a weapon to try to break out the windows in order to escape, said Parris.
“He did every possible thing that he could” to escape, Parris said of Gerace.
When Gerace and Daniel Critser were found, Gerace’s head was out a window, and the boy’s body was in his lap. Parris said Gerace finally was overcome by smoke.
“It’s all indicative of this guy being a true hero,” Parris said.
Michelle Critser and her 4-year-old son initially were treated at Mad River Hospital in Arcata before they were flown to Shriners Hospital for Children in Sacramento, Parris said.
He said Michelle Critser was burned but not to the same extent as her younger son. She later was released from the hospital.
Lake County News contacted Shriners Hospital for Children seeking an update on the child’s condition, but no information was provided by the end of the day Wednesday.
Parris said no autopsies have been performed on Gerace and Daniel Critser. The cause of death for both is attributed to the fire.
However, work is continuing to narrow down the fire’s cause, which Parris said is being ruled as accidental.
“Whether we’re going to be able to find the exact cause, it’s hard to say at this point,” Parris explained.
He said an arson task force is investigating the fire’s cause, but the investigation is being delayed by the holidays. Parris said he expects work to resume on the matter next Monday.
What the investigation has revealed so far is that the fire began on the inside of the motorhome, Parris said.
A laptop and battery were charging on the kitchen table, which Parris said appears to be in close proximity to the fire’s area of origin.
Parris said investigators also are following up on information that the motorhome recently had work done to it to ascertain whether that could have contributed to the fire.
He said the laptop and other mechanical parts recovered from the motorhome may have to be sent to a lab for more thorough investigation in order to arrive at a final cause.
The family’s insurance company also is coming in to assist with the investigation, Parris said.
Services for Daniel Critser have been planned for 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 26, at Grace Church Kelseyville, 6716 Live Oak Drive.
A memorial service for Jim Gerace will take place at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 27, at Clearlake Community United Methodist Church.
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