8-year-old girl dies in Clermont Co. house fire

JACKSON TWP., Ohio - An 8-year-old girl has died in a fast moving house fire that broke out late Thursday night in Clermont County.

The fire started around 11 p.m. in the 3000 block of U.S. Highway 50 near Locust Street in Jackson Township.

The first calls about the fire went out with word that family members who lived at the home may be trapped inside. That brought in fire departments from all over the area to help with search and rescue as well as fighting the flames.

Jackson Twp. police say when fire crews arrived on scene, they made contact with a resident, Stella Ward, 68, who had climbed out of a second story window. After being assisted by neighbors, Ward told crews that her granddaughter was still inside the residence.

Young neighborhood friends of Cheyenne and her brothers remember seeing the grandmother trying to get help as the fire raged last night.

Family friend, 11 year old Nick Hudson says, "(the grandmother) was in her room, and then I saw her come out on the back roof. Cheyenne was probably up on the second floor, hiding under one of the bunk beds."

Fire units entered the residence and located 8-year-old Cheyenne Ward in a bedroom on the second floor. They took Cheyenne out of the residence and transported her to Clermont Northeastern School to meet a medical helicopter. Upon arrival, a medical helicopter physician examined Cheyenne and pronounced her dead.

Cheyenne was going to be in the second grader at Clermont Northeastern Elementary School next week. The principal said a lot of tears were shed when teachers learned Cheyenne would never see her new desk or the school supplies that were waiting for her.

Principal Glenda Greene tells 9 News, Cheyenne "Always came in with a smile on her face. She was an awesome student. She is going to be sadly missed."

The school will have counselors available when the 700 students start the school year next Tuesday, without Cheyenne.

Stella Ward was transported by medical helicopter to University Hospital where she remains in critical condition.

Stella Ward was the legal custodian of Cheyenne.

The Ohio State Fire Marshal's Office joined local fire and police departments to investigate and determined that the cause of the fire was an accidental electrical malfunction.

The State Fire Marshal's Office says smoke detectors were present, but did not function.

Five fire departments responded to assist in fighting the blaze.

Cheyenne Ward becomes the 13th Ohio child under 14 years old to die in a fire, this year.

Stay with 9 News and WCPO.com for the latest on this fire.