The teenagers killed in a house fire early Wednesday morning in Coventry Township have been identified. 17-year-old Abigayle Mates and 15-year-old Adrian Mates-Mata died after a fire broke out while they were sleeping at their Cove Boulevard home.
Wednesday afternoon, a growing memorial for the teens, including flowers, balloons, and notes, was laid among the leaves on the lawn outside the home. Their grandmother was able to escape the home and call 911. As of Wednesday afternoon, she is still in critical condition.
Abigayle and Adrian were beloved students at Coventry Local Schools. The school district released a statement:
We are deeply saddened by the tragic news that two of our beloved Comets lost their lives in a house fire overnight. This devastating loss has touched our entire school community, and our hearts are with the families and friends of these students during this difficult time.
Our primary focus is supporting our students, staff, and families as we all cope with this heartbreaking loss. Counselors and mental health support services are currently working to provide care for those students struggling during this time. We encourage everyone to lean on each other and seek support as needed.
Our community's resilience will help us through this difficult time, and we remain committed to providing care and comfort to all impacted.
Three taken to the hospital after a house fire in Coventry Twp. An adult was able to make it out but two teens had to be rescued. Fire chief says they were critical when transported. State Fire Marshal requested. @BrynCaswellTV with live reports pic.twitter.com/TqltSrhQbz
— Mike Vielhaber (@MVielhaber) October 30, 2024
Summit County Sheriff's Office deputies were first to arrive on the scene after 3 a.m. Wednesday, but the fire was too hot and intense for them to pull the teens out. Coventry Fire Department crews were met with intense flames, heat, and smoke. Two Summit County Sheriff's Deputies had to be treated for smoke inhalation. Many other fire departments responded to the 2-alarm fire.
"We did not hear smoke detectors activated inside the actual unit itself. Not saying they weren't in there we just didn't hear them when we arrived on scene that there was actually smoke detectors that were working," said Adam Rockich, Fire Chief, Coventry Fire Department.
Neighbor Sharon Tharp said she knew the teenagers' grandmother Mary, well, "Mary would give the shirt off her back, that's how she was. She's lived here 20 years. We've been here 10. We used to have coffee out there all the time. Everybody knows everybody here."
"It hurts you right here in the heart, really bad," said Tharp. She continued, "You don't get to see them graduate or get married or any of that. You miss all that."
Tharp said the teenagers were well-loved, "I heard a girl crying this morning, sitting on the front porch over there. She was her best friend," said Tharp.
The cause of the fire is currently unknown; the State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating.
A GoFundMe has been created to support their grandmother. If you would like to donate, CLICK HERE.
