By William A. Weathers
The Cincinnati Enquirer

NEWPORT - After an overnight search, firefighters today found the body of a 10-year-old boy from Batavia in the burned-out ruins of his uncle's home at 647 Nelson Place.

Flames and smoke engulf a three-story house on Nelson Place. (Tony Jones photo) | ZOOM |

The boy, whose name was not released, was on the second floor when the fire started in the three-story, brick home about 9 p.m. Tuesday night. His body was found in a front bedroom at 8:45 a.m. today, Newport Fire Chief Larry Atwell said.

Chief Atwell said the fire started in a Christmas tree on the first floor. The state fire marshal and investigators were on the scene today trying to confirm the cause.

The boy had come to the house with his mother and grandmother, but the boy and his uncle were the only ones there when the fire started, Chief Atwell said. The uncle, whose name was not released, escaped unharmed after trying unsuccessfully to rescue the boy.

The fire was reported after the boy's mother and grandmother, also from Batavia, returned to the residence about 9:15 p.m. and saw flames on the first floor of the house, Chief Atwell said. When firefighters arrived, heavy smoke and flames were shooting from the structure and there was a report of child possibly in the residence, he said.

Fatigued firefighters searched through the night for the boy's body.

"We're searched the house four times," Chief Atwell said about 2 a.m. "We're going to continue to search."

A police dog from Green Township was sent to help in the search.

The boy's relatives, wrapped in blankets to fend off the cold, maintained a silent overnight vigil just outside the yellow tape that surrounded the fire scene.

The fire was a stubborn one.

"It's an old house (approximately 70 years old) with a lot timber inside," Chief Atwell said.

Firefighters from Bellevue and Southgate assisted in battling the blaze. One Newport firefighter suffered a back injury fighting the fire.

The structure was a total loss, Chief Atwell said. Neighbors said other smaller houses on the block had sold recently for about $200,000.

A neighbor said a young couple purchased the house - which formerly was subdivided into apartments - about two years ago and had converted it to a single-family residence. The couple, who were in the process of renovating the house, lived there with their infant son, the neighbor said.

Glenn Hartong and Janice Morse contributed to this report.