According to a report from WCPO, two of the four children hospitalized in critical condition after a West Chester, Ohio, house fire on September 17 have died, according to the Hamilton County Coroner’s Office.
West Chester Fire Department (WCFD) crews responded to the Meadow Ridge apartment complex on Aster Park Drive for reports of a fire at around 12:20 p.m. Saturday. On arrival, they discovered smoke pouring from the apartment’s door and windows.
The West Chester Police Department (WCPD), who arrived first on scene, released body cam footage that shows an officer repeatedly call to residents inside the home without receiving an answer. The officer then kicks in the front door, and smoke is shown billowing out of the doorway. The officer again calls to see if anyone is inside the home, and again receives no answer.
Four children were rescued from the home and transported to the hospital in critical condition. The four children were rescued from the fire within eight minutes of fire crews arriving.
WCPD said that four-year-old Bryson Brooks and two-year-old Alaiya Encarnacion died from their injuries after several days fighting for their lives.
A nine-month-old and six-year-old remain hospitalized. The nine-month-old will undergo a neurological assessment today. However, WCFD Chief Rick Prinz confirmed that the child may be considered brain dead. He also said the six-year-old will be released from the hospital soon.
WCPD said the other two children were two and four years old. Investigators said no adults were at home when the fire started.
Prinz said the fire started in a bedroom, but it’s still under investigation, and the cause of the fire is unknown.
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