COVENTRY TOWNSHIP, Ohio — Coventry Township Fire Department responded early Wednesday morning to a fire in a single-family residential building.
Around 3 a.m. a woman who lived at the house at 657 Cove Boulevard woke up to smoke and flames before being able to escape and call 911. According to the department, she reported two "juveniles" were still trapped inside the house.
The Summit County Sheriff’s Office arrived first on the scene and faced heavy fire, heat and smoke, which made entering the home nearly impossible. Other responding units included firefighters from Green, Barberton and Akron cities alongside others from the villages of Lakemore and Mogadore. Springfield Township and Uniontown Fire Department also responded to the call.
Fire crews who first arrived on the scene included Coventry, New Franklin and Springfield Township and handled the rescue of the juveniles. One was a male found in a back bedroom on the first floor while the second was a female found in an upstairs hallway.
The two were taken to Children’s Hospital Medical Center of Akron- Burn Unit before succumbing to their injuries.
The two teenagers who died were identified as 17-year-old Abigayle Mates and 15-year-old Adrian Mates-Mata, according to a release from the Summit County Medical Examiner.
The woman who escaped was taken to CCF-Akron General Medical Center and remains in critical condition. Two Summit County deputies were also evaluated for smoke inhalation after the victims were transported.
South Summit Fire Investigation Team and Ohio Fire Marshal’s office were contacted and are currently investigating the cause and origin of the fire.