By Cliff Pinckard
cleveland.com
CLARKSVILLE, Ohio — A house fire in southwest Ohio claimed the lives of a woman and her five children, leaving residents in the area saddened and stunned.
The fire in Clinton County, which was reported at about 6:40 a.m. Tuesday, also injured eight firefighters and a man inside the home, WCPO Channel 9 reports.
Thomas Breckel, the director of the Clinton County Emergency Management Agency, told WCPO that stairs to the upstairs portion of the home collapsed when firefighters went inside.
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“Honestly, I was just shocked,” Breckel said. “It was hard to take in — just not knowing who was in there, how many people were in there, if anyone was in there.”
WLWT Channel 5 reports the State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire.
Justin Ballard, who witnessed the fire, told WXIX Channel 19 he noticed black smoke but the home was engulfed by the time he arrived.
“There were a couple younger brave men trying to spray the side of the house with a garden hose,” Ballard said. “The house was past the point of being able to enter or anything. ... I remember just feeling helpless, not knowing who was in there, if anyone was in there.”
A GoFundMe set up for the family identified the victims as Brooke Gordon and her children Zayden, 10; Hudson, 8; Ashton, 6; Bostyn, 2; and Tomlyn, 9 months. The News Journal reports three of the children were students in the Clinton-Massie Local School District.
“This morning, our district became aware of a tragic house fire in our community,” the district said in a statement to the News Journal. “This is devastating news for our school community. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the family’s loved ones and all who are impacted. ...
“We know that tragedy affects not only families, but also classmates, staff members, and the broader community. Our schools are closely connected places and moments like this are felt deeply by many.”
The district said it will have additional counselors and mental health professionals in the district’s buildings beginning Wednesday.
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