Akron firefighters are investigating a fatal fire that occurred early Monday morning at 693 Fultz St. in the city’s Sherbondy Hill neighborhood.
Fire officials said as many as four people — and possibly more — died in the blaze, which began at 2:46 a.m. The home was fully engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived.
The State Fire Marshal’s Office was on the scene.
At 7:30 a.m., the home was still smoking and authorities said they could not assess the situation further because the floor was unstable and it was “still too hot” to go inside.
By 8:45 a.m., the house was charred and while it was still standing, it appeared to be gutted on the inside.
Neighbor Paul Clegg said there were children living in the home, but he could not say how many people lived there.
Clegg, who is deaf, said he was awakened by firefighters. He initially thought his own house was on fire and he even threw his four dogs out a window in an effort to get them to safety.
The siding on Clegg’s home was melted by the heat from the blaze next door.
He wanted to know if the fire was accidental or if it might have been set intentionally.
The two-story home is located at Fultz and Hite streets in a residential neighborhood with a wooded area next door.
Two people died in a fire nearby in April last year at 714 Fultz St. That blaze was investigated as a possible arson. Read more about that fire here.
Check back with www.Ohio.com for the latest details as this story unfolds.