The state fire marshal is looking for the cause of a New Year’s morning house fire in Warren that claimed the lives of a woman and her 5-year-old son and sent her husband and an older son to the hospital.

Crews were dispatched to a garage fire that spread to a home on the 2800 block of Woodland Street N.E. just after 3 a.m.

A caller to 9-1-1 reported hearing explosions at the home where two adults and two children were living.

When firefighters arrived, the flames had spread throughout the home. Flames were so intense, a neighboring home was also damaged.

Fire officials from the city of Warren told 21 News it took about three hours to put out the blaze. 

Two rescue squads were called out, taking the father and the other child to the hospital after the two escaped the home. They have since been released, according to fire officials. 

"If he would have went back in, he may have suffered the same loss," said Warren City Assistant Fire Chief Bill Monrean.

Fire investigators tell 21 News that the bodies of a woman and her five-year-old son were found on the second floor of the home. 

Fire officials said there was also a dog inside the home. They don't believed it survived. 

There is no word yet on the cause of the fire or where it could have started. 

The State Fire Marshal's office is investigating. 

A coroner's investigator told 21 News that the names of the victims won't be released until an autopsy is completed on Monday.

A stone placed against the home is carved with the name "The Grays." Property records show the home is owned by Lee M. Gray.

The mother worked at Salvatore's Italian Grill in Howland. The business has closed for the day but will reopen Saturday.

 

Stay connected with 21 News and wfmj.com for the latest on this developing story.