Details emerge in deadly south Reno house fire that claimed lives of two teens

RENO, Nev. (News 4 & Fox 11) — The Reno Fire Department (RFD) has released more details about a deadly house fire that killed two teens in south Reno last October.

Firefighters responded to the blaze on Oct. 20, 2023 on Teramo Court off Veterans Parkway at 3:01 a.m., six minutes after the call came in, according to a report from RFD. When crews arrived at the home, the house was fully engulfed in flames and the roof was collapsing.

A man in the home said he heard banging noises as the smoke detectors went off and initially thought it was because of the shower, which regularly set off the smoke alarms. He then went downstairs, saw the fire and yelled at everyone to get out of the hose. He went outside, returned inside and went upstairs, where he saw 19-year-old Davis Barbee. He told Davis to get his brother and leave the house.

The man then reportedly fell down the stairs and was able to leave the house through the front door.

A woman in the home left through the back door.

Rescue crews discovered Davis Barbee within the bathtub on the second floor and evacuated him out of bedroom window.

13-year-old Travis Barbee was discovered on a bed in an upstairs bedroom. The two were taken the hospital were they later died.

Investigators determined that the fire originated at the south wall of the garage. They were unable to determine the cause of the fire. An electrical malfunction, heaters and gas lamps in the garage, vehicle fuel and arson could not be ruled out as possible ignition sources, according to the report.

The report stated that it is likely that this fire burned as hot as 1,100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Many neighbors reported hearing popping sounds from the fire and they initially thought the sound came from gunshots.

The report stated that the cause of this fire is classified as undetermined until further information is discovered.

The scene was cleared around 5:15 a.m. on Oct. 20.