Joline Cooper and Children Atreus and Celeste Kershaw Killed in Ashtabula County Apartment Fire

A tragic apartment fire in Austinburg Township, Ashtabula County, Ohio, has claimed the lives of a young mother and her two children. The victims have been identified as Joline Cooper, 25, and her children, Atreus Kershaw, 3, and Celeste Kershaw, 5.

The fire broke out around 7:30 a.m. Friday at a residence in the 2100 block of Jefferson Eagleville Road. Firefighters from multiple jurisdictions responded to the scene, but the three victims were trapped on the second floor and could not escape.

According to Joline’s mother, Marsha Cooper, the building was an old barn that had been repurposed into apartments. She said alternative heating sources were being used due to a maintenance issue, and propane tanks may have contributed to the rapid spread of the flames.

Three other people were injured in the fire and treated at a local hospital before being released. Among them was a 1-year-old child who was thrown from a window in a desperate attempt to escape the blaze.

Geneva Fire Department Chief David Shook confirmed firefighters continued working on hot spots throughout the afternoon, while a state fire marshal was called in to investigate the cause of the fire. Deputies from the Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Department also assisted at the scene.

The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation.