Bay City, MI (September 15, 2023) - The cause of a house fire that killed an 8-year-old child in Bay City early on Wednesday is still being investigated, according to local officers.

Four members of a family on the 700 block of Germania Street made it out alive, but one of their children was trapped inside. Just after midnight, the initial 911 contact reported a fire on the front porch that had moved inside the home. Officers with the Bay City Police Department responded quickly to the house, located on the western edge of town. There were four people in the house when the fire began, including two adults and three children.

Firefighters entered to try to locate the trapped child, but he succumbed to severe burns and smoke inhalation.

Investigators are still trying to figure out what started the blaze. The fire was eventually extinguished with the assistance of fire crews from Bangor, Monitor, and Portsmouth.

Our deepest condolences are with the deceased child's family.