A teenage boy was found dead in a burning house in Steubenville.

It started just before 6 p.m. Tuesday evening officials responded to a report of a large structure fire along Virginia Avenue in Steubenville just across the street from Steubenville High School.

When crews arrived the fire was already too large to go inside. And they weren't sure if anyone was home.

"Once we arrived on scene the neighbors were telling us that they didn't know anyone was inside," said the Steubenville Fire Department Asst. Chief Carlo Capaldi.

And as the smoke billowed out of the home, neighbors stood just watching, waiting, and praying. Crews made a shocking discovery.

"Once we knocked the fire down we started a search of the structure and that's when we found the victim," Capaldi said.

The teenage boy was found in the second floor of the home. Officials still aren't sure what exactly happened and are sad they couldn't do more.

"It was rather difficult but in the end we got the fires extinguished and it's just very unfortunate that the victim was found and he didn't make it."


Everything is under investigation including the cause of death. Two inspectors from the Steubenville Fire Department and the State Fire Marshal will be on the scene throughout the night and are expected to put together a report Wednesday morning.