Firefighters attempted to reach the second floor, but Breckel said the stairs collapsed. When they were finally able to get there, they located one woman and four children dead in a second-floor bedroom.
Another child who officials suspected of being missing was also found dead, Breckel said.
During the response, Breckel said eight firefighters were injured, treated and released at the scene.
At this time, the identities of the deceased have not been released.
Breckel said firefighters from across Warren and Clinton County responded Tuesday morning.
âItâs hard to imagine that your neighbor, someone your kids went to school with, died a few hours earlier,â Breckel said.
We spoke with Justin Ballard, who drove by the scene on his way to work. He said the sight of smoke stopped him in his tracks.
âHonestly, I was just shocked. It was hard to take in â just not knowing who was in there, how many people were in there, if anyone was in there," Ballard said.
He saw two people trying to fight the fire with garden hoses as first responders made their way to the home.
âUnfortunately, the house was engulfed already,â Ballard said.
Ballard said this tragedy has rattled all of Clinton County.
âEverybody knows everybody, everybodyâs super close, everybody wants to help one another,â Ballard said. âAnd when something like this happens, itâs hard to really figure out how to help the family at all.â
At this time, the identities of the deceased have not been released.
Three of the deceased children were students at Clinton-Massie Local Schools, the district confirmed to WCPO Tuesday afternoon.
âThis morning, our district became aware of a tragic house fire in our community. Authorities have confirmed the deaths of a mother, three of our students, as well as two other children,â a statement from Clinton-Massie Local Schools reads. âThis is devastating news for our school community. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the familyâs loved ones and all who are impacted.
Read the full Clinton-Massie Local Schools statement below:
âThis morning, our district became aware of a tragic house fire in our community. Authorities have confirmed the deaths of a mother, three of our students, as (well) as two other children.
âThis is devastating news for our school community. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the familyâs loved ones and all who are impacted.
âOut of respect for the family and to ensure accuracy, we will share only verified information and will not speculate beyond what has been confirmed. We will communicate promptly if additional confirmed information becomes available.
âWe 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.
âWe are working with our local crisis response team to ensure support is in place for students and staff. Additional counselors and mental health professionals will be available in our buildings starting tomorrow. We encourage any student, staff member, or family who needs support to reach out.
âIn times of grief, we lean on one another. Thank you for the care and compassion you show our students and one another each day.â
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