(Edited Thursday evening with information from Jefferson fire chief Jack Williams)
A house fire in Washington Township claimed the life of a 4-year-old child this morning.
Fire fighters responded to the call at 8:22 am to 2488 337th St in the southeast corner of the county. The Rippey, Perry, Jefferson and Grand Junction departments responded, along with the Greene County sheriff’s office, Grand Junction rescue and Greene County Emergency Medical Services.
The name of the child has not been released. The homeowner is listed as Anthony Moore on the assessor’s website. The state fire marshal investigates all fatal fires; no foul play is suspected.
Jefferson fire chief Jack Williams at about 5 pm provided more information but did not name the child. According to Williams, the 911 caller stated a 4-year-old boy was trapped on the second story of the house. When deputies arrived on the scene, the house was fully engulfed and a propane tank was purging.
Three persons escaped the fire – the victim mother, an infant, and a family friend. A 10-year-old son was at school and the father was at work at the time of the fire.
