BLOOMINGDALE, Ohio --
A woman and child were killed after fire broke out in a Jefferson County home on Thursday, sheriff's department officials said.
The fire was reported around 10:30 a.m. at house fire on state Route 152, also known as Steubenville Street, in Bloomingdale.
Officials the victims were a 4-year-old boy and a woman, who officials said was the boy's stepmother. The names of the victims were not immediately known.
A NEWS9 crew said a medical helicopter was also at the scene, but it was not known as of 4:30 p.m. if anyone was transported and, if so, who.
Jefferson County Coroner Michael Scarpone said the boy's father tried desperately to get help and rescue his loved ones.
"Apparently he got blocked by the fire when he was down. (He) got out and tried to get 911, finally got a hold of a cellphone and made the call. Unfortunately, it was too late," Scarpone said.
Multiple fire departments at the scene gave it their all, hoping to rescue those inside, but the fire spread rapidly. The child and woman were pronounced dead at the scene.
Jeff Bonecutter, second assistant chief with the Bloomingdale Volunteer Fire Department, said, for some of the firefighters at the scene, this was the first time they've dealt with a fatality.
"It's rough because when you come to a scene like this it's usually somebody you know," Bonecutter said. "You never forget it. It's always in your mind. And there's some having problems and there will be classes set up to talk to them and relieve some of the pressure."
Neighbors said the family was quiet, friendly and happy. Witnesses described the house as being engulfed in smoke.
"We saw a lot of black smoke in the back (of the) house and we saw a gentleman out there hollering, saying he needed help. He said that his wife and a little boy were trapped in the house," said Scott Burns. "I saw him dive into the front door and he was there shortly and came back out because the smoke was taking over."
Mark Moorehead, who lives directly in front of the victim, said he is struggling to imagine what the man is now going through.
"You just put yourself in the position of having your wife and kid in the house and not knowing what's going to go on there. Yeah, it's messed up," Moorehead said.
A state fire marshal is investigating to determine the cause of the fire. Stay with NEWS9, WTOV9.com and WTOV9 Mobile for continuing coverage.
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