ASHTABULA COUNTY, a tragic apartment fire in Austinburg Township, Ohio, has claimed the lives of a young mother and her two children, authorities confirmed.
The victims were identified as Joline Cooper, 25, and her children, Atreus Kershaw, 3, and Celeste Kershaw, 5.
The fire broke out around 7:30 a.m. Friday at a residence in the 2100 block of Jefferson Eagleville Road. Fire crews from multiple jurisdictions responded to the scene, but officials said the three victims were trapped on the second floor and were unable to escape.
According to Joline’s mother, Marsha Cooper, the building was a former barn that had been converted into apartments. She said alternative heating sources were being used due to a maintenance issue, and propane tanks may have played a role in how quickly the fire spread.
Three other people were injured in the blaze and were treated at a local hospital before being released. Among them was a 1-year-old child who was thrown from a window in an effort to escape the flames.
Geneva Fire Department Chief David Shook said firefighters continued working to extinguish hot spots throughout the afternoon. A state fire marshal was called in to investigate the cause of the fire, with deputies from the Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Department also assisting at the scene.
Authorities said the exact cause of the fire remains under investigation.
