TOLEDO, Ohio — A 9-year-old boy, and student at Most Blessed Sacrament Parish School, is dead following a Christmas Eve house fire in west Toledo.
Most Blessed Sacrament Parish Principal Greg Sattler said Monday that the school is accepting donations for the family of the fourth-grader, who was identified as Amare Lockett.
Additionally, after kids return from Christmas break, Sattler said the school will provide counselors for any student who needs to talk about the incident.
The fire broke out at a house on Christmas Eve, in the 2000 block of Fernwood Avenue near Upton Avenue about 4:30 a.m. The home sustained heavy fire involvement on the first and second floor, as crews attacked the flames.
Six people were inside the home at the time of the fire. Five were able to escape, Toledo Fire and Rescue Department interim fire chief John Kaminski said.
Three people were sent to the hospital with minor, non-life-threatening injuries.
A fire detective told our crews on the scene that Amare was found in an upstairs bedroom.
Crews attempted to make their way to the second level of the home, but heavy flames and structural failure presented challenges, according to TFRD.
Firefighters reported hearing working smoke alarms going off inside the home.
The American Red Cross, neighbors and other family members are assisting the family.
A verified GoFundMe page has been set up in support of the family.
Editor's note: Previous reports identified the victim as an 11-year-old boy, based on information provided to WTOL 11 by Toledo police and Toledo Fire & Rescue Department. His family provided confirmation Saturday that Amare was 9. The article reflects these corrections.