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RENTON, WA — A large wildfire burning in Okanogan County claimed the life of a toddler and critically injured the child's two parents.
KREM-TV reports Jacob Hyland, 31, and Jamie Hyland, 26, of Renton were reported missing by family members on Tuesday. A deputy found the family's vehicle abandoned and destroyed by fire. On Wednesday morning, search teams found the family on the banks of the Columbia River and rushed them to a local hospital. The sheriff's office told the news station that the couple's 1-year-old son did not survive.
Deputies believe the Hylands were attempting to escape their property and get away from the Cold Springs Fire, which has burned more than 163,000 acres in a matter of days. In neighboring Douglas County, the Pearl Hill Fire has burned more than 174,000 acres.
Related: Washington Wildfires Burn 330K Acres; State Urges Extreme Caution
According to a GoFundMe page set up to aid the family's recovery, the Renton family left on a short trip to their Okanogan property over the holiday weekend, situated in a rural area that is cut off from communication and cell service.
A spokesperson for Harborview Medical Center confirmed two patients arrived with critical burns Wednesday afternoon and were admitted to the emergency department. Both are being evaluated and treated by trauma and burn specialists. Harborview operates the only Level I trauma and burn facility in the region.
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