Riverton honors citizens who rescued children from April 30 house fire; fire investigated as accidental

The Riverton City Council on June 2 formally recognized a group of residents whose actions on April 30 helped save two small children from a house fire at 611 North Broadway.

Mayor Tim Hancock and the city’s chief presented meritorious‑citizen and exceptional‑citizen awards to people who forced entry, pulled children from a bedroom window and provided CPR and first aid at the scene. “You acted without hesitation to render aid and were instrumental in saving a life,” the chief said while recognizing Paul Bailey and other neighbors, who received sustained applause.

The chief provided a preliminary update on the investigation, saying smoke was first reported about 1:31 p.m. on April 30 and that evidence now points toward an accidental ignition inside a bedroom. He said relatives, neighbors and bystanders worked with first responders to rescue two children trapped in a bedroom; both were rushed to a hospital and have since been removed from life support and are improving. The children’s mother, identified in the meeting as Macy, was found and transported to the hospital and died a short time later.

Council members emphasized the courage of those who intervened and urged residents to keep smoke detectors working. Tim Hugus, the city’s information‑technology network administrator, was also honored at the meeting for 22 years of service.

What happens next: the chief said the investigation remains preliminary and state partners continue to examine evidence; the city will release more definitive findings once investigators complete their review.