Ashtabula County woke up to heartbreak Friday morning after a fast-moving apartment fire killed a young mother and her two children in Austinburg Township. Joline Cooper was just 25 years old. Her children, Celeste Kershaw, 5, and Atreus Kershaw, 3, never made it out of the burning building.
The fire broke out around 7:30 a.m. at an apartment in the 2100 block of Jefferson Eagleville Road. Flames tore through the structure quickly, trapping Joline and the children on the second floor. By the time help arrived, the fire had already taken over much of the building.
Joline’s mother, Marsha Cooper, said the family had been dealing with a maintenance problem and turned to alternative heating to stay warm. Propane tanks were inside the apartment and may have helped the fire spread faster. The building itself, a converted barn, offered little protection once the flames took hold.
Three other people inside the apartment managed to escape. In a desperate moment, a 1-year-old child was thrown from a window to safety. All three survivors were taken to a hospital, treated for injuries, and later released.
Fire crews from several departments rushed to the scene and worked for hours to knock down hot spots. The narrow road, rough conditions, and lingering heat made the job even harder, according to Geneva Fire Chief David Shook. Smoke hung over the area long after the flames were out.
The Ohio State Fire Marshal is now investigating what caused the fire. Ashtabula County sheriff’s deputies are also assisting. Investigators are taking a close look at the heating sources and how the fire moved so quickly through the building.
In Austinburg Township, grief is heavy and shared. Friends and neighbors describe Joline as a devoted mother who lived for her children. The loss has shaken the community, leaving behind quiet streets, broken routines, and a family that will never be the same.
