No adults were home at the time of the blaze.
“It is being expertly investigated by the West Chester police department that have an excellent investigative staff working on it,” Prosecutor Mike Gmoser on Tuesday told the Journal-News. “It is a tragedy of monumental proportions and it is being dealt with that way.”
Barb Wilson, director of public information and engagement, said Tuesday “it appears” the children are still in critical condition. She said because the fire is still under investigation the township cannot comment further. Also, the cause of the fire has not yet been determined, she said.
Crews found smoke coming from the door and windows of the apartment when they arrived.
The township released two 911 calls reporting the fire, with one caller was repeating what someone else near her at the scene was reporting.
“I see smoke and hear glass breaking, she said the windows are busting out and everything,” the female caller said. “When the dispatcher asked if anyone was inside, “she said she don’t think so cause her car isn’t here.”
The four children were brought outside and received life support measures, Fire Chief Rick Prinz said.
“Four victims were brought outside and received advanced life support measures from our department,” Prinz said. “One of the four was not breathing and did not have a pulse.”
Just after 2 p.m. on Saturday, officials said all four children — while in critical condition — had pulses and were breathing, and they were transported downtown to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. Prinz said the mother of the children went to the hospital to be with the children.
Cincinnati Children’s spokesman Mike Mattingly said he could not release their current conditions.
Content partner WCPO contributed to this story.
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