Fatal Idaho fire can’t be explained

Because the destruction was so complete, investigators won’t be able to confirm what caused a fire that killed a family of three Monday.

Officials suspect that the early morning fire was caused by electrical problems near the mobile home’s washer and dryer, said Sagle Fire Chief Rob Goodyear.

But “there is nothing more that we can determine,” Goodyear said. “We’ve done as much as we can, unfortunately.”

A neighbor on Fish Creek Road reported the fire about 3:30 a.m. Monday.

After it was extinguished, firefighters found the bodies of 35-year-old Jayson Mitchell, 24-year-old Brandy Post and their 5-month-old son, Benjamin.

No services have been scheduled. Post’s sister, mother and grandmother are traveling to the area from out of state, said Judy Ahrend, who became Post’s foster mother when she was 16.

“It’s breaking my heart because she couldn’t get a break in life,” Ahrend said.

Post requested to be put in foster care as a teen because her mother was battling a drug addiction, Ahrend said. Post moved into Ahrend’s house and attended Sandpoint High School, graduating from the alternative school in 2000. She earned her nursing certificate and worked at Alpine Vista assisted living center in Sandpoint before Benjamin was born.

She planned on returning to school to earn a nursing degree once Benjamin was older, Ahrend said.

“You never saw such a cute baby in all your life,” Ahrend said. “She loved him so much, she just couldn’t stand to put him anywhere but her hip.”

“I’m not sure why I’m not crying,” Ahrend said over the phone. “It’s just not real for me.”

Post and Mitchell had been together for a few years. Patti Watts lived across from their mobile home for a couple years and said she met them after getting her car stuck one night.

“Jayson happened to be driving by and stopped and said, ‘Hey, do you guys need help?’ ” Watts recalled. “He was just a real nice guy.”

Mitchell and Post were regulars at the Westmond Store & Deli in Sagle, where Watts works. Mitchell owned SXS Drywall and Painting and would stop by the store every day, Watts said, usually with baby Benjamin.

“He was a beautiful baby,” Watts said. “Jayson would bring him into the store, and he was so proud of him.”

Watts said Mitchell has two other children from a previous relationship – a girl and a boy about 9 or 10 years old. They live with their mother in the area.

Ahrend said there was something about Post that made everyone love her.

“She was a beautiful, beautiful girl. Just vivacious,” Ahrend said. “She’s going to be missed, that’s for sure.”