3 teens trapped on upper floor die in Ind. house fire despite rescue attempt; parents escape

3 teens trapped upstairs die in Indiana house fire

WABASH, Ind. — Police say an early-morning Indiana house fire killed three teenagers trapped on an upper floor despite efforts by an officer who spotted the blaze and tried to rescue them.

Officer Josh Prater saw a fire at the home in Wabash shortly before 4 a.m. Sunday. Police say he reported it to dispatch and tried to get inside to rescue the teens, but was turned back by smoke, flames and heat.

A statement from police says 17-year-old Caitlin D. Burke, 15-year-old Jacob J. Johnson and 13-year-old Jared R. Johnson died in the blaze. Their parents, Jared and Martha Johnson, escaped. They had told Prater the teens were trapped.

The cause of the fire wasn’t immediately known.