A Marion house fire that claimed the life of a two-year-old boy has now led to the arrest of his father.

Kelvin James Carlisle, 37, of Marion was arrested Tuesday and charged with one count of negligent homicide and one count of child endangerment. He did not post bond and is currently being held in Marion city jail.

Carlisle’s residence at 107 Childs St in Marion burned to the ground last Saturday morning. It is believed that neither Carlisle nor his wife Jamarja were present at the time, although their two-year-old son and his fourteen-year-old brother were inside the home when the fire began. The two-year-old did not survive the blaze.

Marion Chief of Police Tony Bufford declined comment on further details of the case, citing the ongoing investigation and the possibility of further arrests. But he did state, “Make no mistake: We are going to hold people accountable for the safety of their children, period.”

“It’s just wrong not to pay consequences for putting a child in danger,” Bufford added. “A child is dead, and it’s not right.”

Although the state fire marshal has yet to rule on the official cause of the blaze, Bufford said in a Monday interview that his understanding was that the electricity in the house had been cut off. Candles were being used for light, one of which was likely left unattended and started the fire.