Boy, 5, dies in East Baltimore house fire

A 5-year-old boy died Saturday morning in a house fire in East Baltimore, the Fire Department said.

Firefighters went to the home, in the 1600 block of E. Oliver St., at around 10:30 a.m. and saw heavy fire and smoke, and were told that people were trapped inside.

The boy was located on the second floor, and taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.

A second boy was rescued from the home, and was reported in stable condition.

Fire officials did not immediately identify the 5-year-old, and said an autopsy would be conducted to determine a cause of death. It is not clear yet what caused the fire, which is being investigated.

At the scene, adjoining homes appeared to have been damaged, and a large pile of items from inside the home were stacked on the sidewalk. A woman could be seen consoling a young girl, and a man seen walking in and out of the home with firefighters declined to comment.

This is the second person to die in a fire this year. A 32-year-old woman died in a blaze in a vacant home in the 400 block of N. East Ave. in East Baltimore on Jan. 17.

justin.fenton@thebaltimorebanner.com