Firefighters found the body of Emanuel Ellis-El in an upstairs bedroom.
Six people escaped the fire, which was reported at 4 a.m. Some jumped to safety from second-story windows or a balcony.
Four occupants of the home were hospitalized, including the victim's mother, Tammi Beverly; her boyfriend, Anthony Gant Sr.; the 4-year-old; and Beverly's 13-year-old daughter.
Gant was listed in critical condition in the burn unit at Spectrum Health Blodgett Campus in East Grand Rapids, the hospital said.
The other three were taken to Spectrum Health Butterworth Campus. The mother was treated and released, but the health status of the two hospitalized children was unavailable, although firefighters said their injuries were not life-threatening.
Fire Captain Anthony Prusinski was hospitalized after falling through a floor while searching for the victim. He was treated and released from Spectrum Health Butterworth.
After awakening to the fire, Gant jumped from a second-story window and then ran back inside to get the boys, said Valerie Organ, who also was in the house and escaped the fire.
Moments later, he emerged with the 4-year-old. Gant then collapsed on the porch, covered in soot, gasping for air and bleeding from the forehead, Organ said.
``He went in to get Anthony and Little Man, and all he came out with was Anthony,'' she told The Grand Rapids Press.
Gant tried again to go back inside but could not, Organ said.
All the survivors had escaped from the home before firefighters arrived. The fire was fought in below-zero temperatures.
``We kept telling them, `There's one more still in there,''' said Organ, who had a cut arm and a bruised knee.
Fire Investigator Pablo Martinez said it will be difficult to determine how the fire started because the damage was extensive.
