Five children, including 1-year-old twins, died in a late-night fire that swept through a house after neighbors were awakened by a loud boom, firefighters said.
The only survivor was the children's mother, who jumped out of a second-floor window Sunday night, according to Youngstown Fire Capt. Kurt Wright.
The other three children who died were ages 9, 3 and 2, he said.
Bob Sharp with the Ohio State Fire Marshall's office stands near a home after a deadly fire in Youngstown, Ohio, Monday, Dec. 10, 2018. Authorities report that several children died in the fire. (William D. LewisThe Vindicator via AP)
State and local investigators were just beginning to search for a cause of the deadly blaze. Fire officials said so far, there's nothing that indicates the fire was suspicious.
Most of the damage was on the home's first floor, leading investigators to believe that's where the fire started, Wright said.
Deborah Rivera, who lives across the street, told the Youngstown Vindicator she heard a loud boom and called 911. Her boyfriend, Justin Viera, said flames were shooting out of the first-floor windows.
Melissa Thomas, right, wipes away a tear as her daughter Elissa Simione looks on near the scene of a deadly fire in Youngstown, Ohio, Monday, Dec. 10, 2018. Authorities report that several children died in the fire. (William D. LewisThe Vindicator via AP)
Neighbors told WFMJ-TV the family had just moved into the house about six months ago. The two-story wood home was built more than 90 years ago.
"We have a relatively young department and most the guys have children. So it hits pretty hard and the fact that it's so close to Christmas hits even harder," said Youngstown Fire Chief Barry Finley.
Firefighters found flames throughout the home's first floor when they arrived and were able to pull out three of the children, but they died at a hospital, Wright said.
Police tape marks off part of the scene after a deadly fire in Youngstown, Ohio, Monday, Dec. 10, 2018. Authorities report that several children died in the fire. (William D. LewisThe Vindicator via AP)
The mother was taken to a hospital and is being treated for injuries, he said.
One firefighter was treated at the scene and another was taken to a hospital for treatment and released.
A memorial to the children was beginning to grow outside the home
Melissa Thomas did not know the victims, but stopped with her daughters Elissa and Marissa Simione to drop off stuffed animals in honor of the children.
"I got two kids," she said. "I can't imagine five."
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Former president Donald Trump, center, awaits the start of proceedings at Manhattan criminal court, Monday, April 22, 2024, in New York. Opening statements in Donald Trump's historic hush money trial are set to begin. Trump is accused of falsifying internal business records as part of an alleged scheme to bury stories he thought might hurt his presidential campaign in 2016. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura, Pool)
