PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — A mother and son were killed Wednesday morning after a house in Portsmouth caught fire.
The fire started around 4 a.m. at a house in the 2000 block of Atlanta Avenue, just off Elm Avenue.
Officials with the Portsmouth Fire Marshals Office said emergency responders learned on the way to the scene that two people inside the house could not get out.
Fire investigators said a frayed electrical cord caused the fire. There were no smoke alarms in the house.
Gallery: House fire on Atlanta Ave in Portsmouth
There was heavy fire extending from the front porch area of the house when crews arrived. One of the victims was found on the first floor, while the other was on the second.
Officials said they were both taken to Bon Secours Maryview Medical Center where they were pronounced dead.
10 On Your Side spoke to family members, who identified the two people killed as 71-year-old Saundra Bracy and her son, 24-year-old Jarrod Bracy, who was known to many as “Nick.”
Pam Amstead’s lived across the street from the house for 40 years.
“It was fully enflamed when I got outside and I knew they couldn’t make it. I’m having this flashback because the house was fully involved, totally red when I came outside,” said Amstead.
A firefighter was treated at the scene, but officials said they were cleared to get back to work.