Family hopes deadly fire serves as a safety reminder

JACKSON TWP., Ohio - Days following a fire that killed an 8-year-old girl, her family is hoping her death serves as a fire safety reminder.

Cheyenne Ward died after an Aug. 26 fire at her grandmother's home in Jackson Township. The Division of State Fire Marshal ruled the fire an accidental electrical fire.

Cheyenne would have started second grade Tuesday.

"Anyone who she remotely got to know she would always sit on their lap and act like she had known them forever. That's just the kind of little girl she was. She always had a smile on her face," said her aunt, Nancy Ward.

The fire that took Cheyenne's life started around 11:30 p.m. Aug. 26 at her grandmother's home on U.S. 50 in Jackson Township.

Her grandmother, Stella Ward, escaped but Cheyenne was trapped inside.

Firefighters rescued Cheyenne and a medical helicopter flew both to the hospital where Cheyenne was pronounced dead by doctors.

Stella Ward suffered from smoke inhalation and is expected to be released from University Hospital early this week.

The family hopes if there's one good thing that can come out of this tragedy, It's a reminder of fire safety.

The Fire Marshal found smoke detectors inside the home but they didn't work.

"Nobody knows what could happen if they were but we don't know if it could have changed the situation but it may have," said her Uncle Les Ward.

The family set up the "Cheyenne Ward Memorial Fund," people who want to help the family with the cost of the funeral can donate at any Fifth-Third Bank.

Cheyenne's death makes 13 children under the age of 14 that have died in Ohio fires in 2010.