DETROIT – Young twin boys and a woman are dead and a 4-year-old child is in critical condition after a home caught fire early Tuesday morning in the 18000 block of Lahser Road on Detroit's west side.
Twins Jayceon and Jayshawn Ford and their grandmother, Michelle Ford, were identified as the victims.
Fire investigators believe the fire was caused by a kitchen appliance. They do not suspect foul play.
The fire started about 12:45 a.m. The family was trapped upstairs on the second floor. The twin boys are 3 years old. Their grandmother, who was in her late 40s, also was killed. The 4-year-old boy suffered second and third degree burns. The child is being treated at Children's Hospital.
The victims died of smoke inhalation.
Overall, 12 people were in the home at the time of the fire. The grandmother and the twin boys died upstairs. Local 4 has learned the woman had one of the boys in her arms.
Update: 12 people inside when fire started. Grandma & 3 y.o. twins died upstairs. She had one in her arms. #local4 pic.twitter.com/lW0f3svq69
— Nick Monacelli (@nickmonacelli) June 27, 2017
Woman known as neighborhood grandma
Neighbors said the family was very loveable. The grandmother is described as the neighborhood's matriarch.
"The grandmother of the neighborhood. She would fee you. She would clothe you. She would pray for you. Anything you needed, she would do it. She was the neighborhood grandma," said Dominique Perkins.
Neighbor John Holley said it's devastating for everyone.
"You don't wish that upon nobody," he said.
Stove may have caused fire
Firefighters removed a stove from the home as fire investigators try to determine how this happened.
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