AKRON, Ohio — Two children were killed in a fire at an Akron home on 7th Avenue Monday night, according the Akron Fire Department.
Shortly before 7 p.m., crews responded to the 1200 block of 7th Avenue for calls of black smoke coming from the windows.
When crews arrived at the home, black smoke was coming from the second-floor windows of the two-story home.
An 8-year-old girl and a 10-year-old boy were found unresponsive in the home and transported in critical condition to the hospital. They later died from their injuries, the fire department said.
The medical examiner identified the 8-year-old girl as Fatumata Jabateh and the 10-year-old boy as Abou Jabateh.
Captain Sierjie Lash said there were not any adults home at the time of the fire. The mother of children has left to pick up dinner for the kids, Lash told News 5.
"It's really hitting her hard. They just made a request and she stepped out to get food," Lash Said.
A spokesperson for Akron Public Schools said Fatumata was a 2nd-grader at Seiberling Community Learning Center and Abou was a 4th-grader at Barber Community Learning Center.
The district released the following statement on the tragedy:
"Dear APS Colleague:
We ask for your support and prayers today as we grieve the loss of two of our students. Eight year old Fatumata Jabateh was in second grade at Seiberling CLC, and 1o year old Abou Jabateh attended fourth grade at Barber CLC. They were in their home when it caught fire yesterday.
We know that you join us in conveying our condolences to Fatumata and Abou's family, and to the faculty, staff, and classmates at Barber and Seiberling who cared deeply for each of these children. We offer them any assistance the district can provide. Our counseling teams are available to anyone who wishes to talk with them about this tragic event.
Our entire staff joins us in expressing our deepest sympathies to everyone who loved these children and everyone they loved."
The American Red Cross and Victim’s Assistance were contacted to support the remaining displaced residents.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but Lash said it does not appear to be suspicious.
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