WEST CHESTER, Ohio — Two of the four children injured during a West Chester fire last weekend have died, according to a report from the Hamilton County Coroner's Office.
Crews responded to the Meadow Ridge apartment complex on Aster Park Drive for reports of a fire around 12:20 p.m. Saturday. When they arrived, they found smoke coming from the door and windows of the apartment.
Body cam footage from West Chester police, who first responded to the scene, shows an officer call repeatedly for people inside the home, but no one answered. The officer then kicks in the front door to the apartment and smoke can be seen billowing out of the doorway. The officer then calls for anyone in the home to call out, but no one answers again.
Watch the full, raw body cam footage from West Chester police:
Four children were rescued from the building and were taken to the hospital in critical condition. The four children were rescued from the fire within eight minutes of fire crews arriving, West Chester Fire Chief Rick Prinz said.
"(They) did everything humanly possible within their training," Prinz said.
4-year-old Bryson Brooks and 2-year-old Alaiya Encarnacion succumbed to their injuries after days of fighting for their lives.
Two other children, a 9-month-old and a 6-year-old are still in the hospital. The 9-month-old is undergoing a neurological assessment at some point Wednesday. When asked if that meant the child is brain dead, Prinz said "that's a fair assessment."
The 6-year-old is expected to be released from the hospital soon, Prinz said.
West Chester police previously reported the ages of the children involved as 5 months, 5 years, 8 years and 1 year, however, the correct ages of all the children involved are 4 years, 6 years, 2 years and 9 months.
Investigators said no adults were home at the time of the fire.
Prinz said the fire started in a bedroom, but it's still under investigation and what caused the fire is unknown.
WCPO reached out to the Butler County Prosecutor. He said because the case is an ongoing investigation, he will not be releasing a statement at this time.
This story will update when more information is available.
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