SANDUSKY, Ohio — An investigation is underway in Sandusky after a 3-year-old boy died in an early morning house fire in the 200 block of Meigs Street.
Sandusky Fire Chief Mario D'Amico tells 3News crews responded to the scene around 3:30 a.m.
"When we arrived, there were flames coming out of the rear of the structure," D'Amico said. "A mother and three children were outside, they had self-evacuated and stated that they were missing a 3-year-old who should be in the living room downstairs. We committed a lot of resources to searching the first floor trying to find that 3-year-old. We were unable to find him downstairs. Eventually, as we made it upstairs, we found him on the second floor hiding underneath a bed."
According to D'Amico, the child was found unconscious.
"We took all the lifesaving measures possible in order to save him. We transported him to the hospital, but unfortunately, he did not make it."
The Erie County Coroner's Office has identified the boy as 3-year-old Khyair Hughes. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, although D'Amico says there were working smoke detectors inside the home.
D'Amico adds it's important for families to have a fire escape plan in case of emergencies.
"Having an escape plan is one of the most important things that you can have," he said, "because in the middle of the night when you wake up from a dead sleep, it has to be second nature."
Captain Ricky Fetter, a fire marshal with the Parma Fire Department, encourages families to pick a safe spot outside the home to meet up in case of a fire, such as a large tree outdoors or even a neighbor's home. He also says families should discuss exits in the home, and practice leaving.
Additionally, if families have items like emergency roll out ladders, they should practice using them.
"70% of people say they have an escape plan, but only like 45% actually practice it," Fetter noted. "You should practice it during the day and at night. Every person in the home should know two ways out of every room. and you need to have working smoke detectors, as well."