EAST CLEVELAND, Ohio — Two people have died following an early morning house fire in the 1100 block of East 125th Street in East Cleveland.
The East Cleveland Fire Department tells 3News those who died include a 6-year-old girl and her 75-year-old grandma.
Two adults — both 44 years old and parents of the child — were also taken to the hospital in stable condition. East Cleveland Fire Chief David Worley says they had jumped out of a second-story window. Firefighters had to enter through a back window to get to the child and her grandmother.
After both the little girl and her grandma died at the hospital, Worley called Monday the heaviest of days.
"So loss of life always hurts, but my deepest and sincerest condolences go out to the family," Worley expressed. "They're going to feel it more than us, something many of us can keep in mind and keep them in our prayers."
The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office has identified the victims as 6-year-old Denver Ashford and 75-year-old Annie Brakins-Brown.
Lt. Mike Norman with the Cleveland Division of Fire says the cause and origin of the fire are currently under investigation. The Ohio State Fire Marshal will join the Cleveland Division of Fire for the investigation.
Norman says the initial call for the fire came in around 4 a.m. Damage at the home is estimated at $60,000.
Yvonne Lundy, a neighbor across the street, said she was startled by the chaos.
"I heard this blood-curdling scream, a man yelling, 'help, help, fire, fire!"
Lundy told 3News she'll never forget seeing her neighbor in his driveway outside of the burning home, pacing back and forth while screaming. She then called 911.
"There's people trapped in the house! It's burning! Y'all need to get here now," she urged the answering dispatcher.
