Young parents are victims of Bryan, Ohio house fire

BRYAN, Ohio (WANE)  Fire officials have identified the two people who died in a house fire in Bryan Thursday morning. They are Ashley Jenkins, 17, and her fiance, Sebastian McConnell, 20. Their infant son and two other adults made it out safely.

Bryan Fire Chief Bruce Siders said Jenkins and McConnell had been sleeping upstairs when the fire broke out just after 1:00 a.m. at 316 N. Beech Street. Jenkins’ mother and stepfather, Joseph and Jackie Kurtz, along with 5-month-old Nicholas, had been asleep on the first floor of the home and escaped.

Investigators believe the fire started in the living room but aren't sure what sparked it.

NewsChannel 15 spoke with neighbors Thursday afternoon who woke up when the fire began.

"I just heard the crying and screaming," said Jamie Collins, who lives next door.  "I had seen the flames and thought oh my gosh."

Collins said she called 911 before she and her son had to go outside to make sure the fire hadn't spread to another home.

A fund has been set up to help take care of the couple's son, Nicholas. Anyone interested in donating to the Nicholas McConnell Fund can do so beginning Friday at any Huntington Bank branch.