Young boy dies in house fire in Chester County

EAST COVENTRY TWP., Pa. (WPVI) -- An accidental fire has claimed the life of a child in East Coventry Township, Chester County.

Fire crews from the Ridge Fire Company responded just after 5:30 a.m. Sunday to a house at the corner of Ellis Woods Road and Buckwalter Road.

Accordingto Pennsylvania state police, firefighters found a young boy inside the house.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Friends say he was just nine-years-old.

Witnesses say family members believed the boy was asleep in his bedroom.

His father tried to save him but the fire was too intense.

Investigators believe the fire was accidental and began in the kitchen.

Teddy bears with a sympathy note sat at the end of the driveway this afternoon.

Kurtis Jones, a neighbor said, "This is very sad, like I said it's a quiet community, not a lot happens here."

Jones and his sister Laurin Markle visited the scene with their family Sunday, hoping to express their sympathy.

Markle is friends with the victim's sister, and says she expects to see the community rally around the family.

"I think there's a lot of people who will help out the family, even if its just a small amount of money, just helping," said Markle.

Investigators have not released the name of the victim.

Fire crews believe he died from smoke inhalation.

The Red Cross is providing food and lodging, along with spiritual support for the family.

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