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Grandfather dies of injuries following fatal Monroe Township house fire

Posted at 6:21 AM, Dec 15, 2016
and last updated 2016-12-15 10:30:55-05

The Monroe County Sheriff's Office says the grandfather injured in the fatal house fire earlier this week has died. 

Monroe Twp. fire officials say his 18-year-old grandson was also killed in the fire.

Lt. Calvin Schmitt says they were called to the home on Tiara Avenue off Dunbar just down the street from Monroe Community College around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday. 

When firefighters arrived, the home was engulfed with the second story already collapsing and flames shooting through the front door.

Lt. Schmitt says the 18-year-old was trapped in an upstairs bedroom and firefighters were unable to get inside the home because the conditions were too dangerous.

We're told the four other family members were able to get out; a grandmother, grandfather, mother and 16-year-old girl.

We're told their names are Amelia Castorena, Ruben Castorena, Monica Johnson and Jessica Johnson. 

Lt. Schmitt says Ruben Castorena was taken to St. Vincent's Medical Center in Toledo but later died from his injuries. 

The grandmother, mother and 16-year-old are expected to be OK. 

Firefighters do not know what caused this fire, but they believe it started on the first floor.

Neighbors say the family has lived there for nearly 13 years and describe them as nice people, very friendly. 

The 18-year-old victim, Alex Johnson, was a student at Monroe Public Schools. He was a junior in special education classes at Monroe High School. The district issued the following statement regarding his death:

“Our Monroe Public Schools family is devastated by the loss of one of our students,” Dr. Barry Martin, district superintendent said. “It is always difficult to lose a student, but the loss is particularly tragic around the holidays. Our thoughts are with Alex’s family as well as our staff and students at Monroe High School.”