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Fatal Fire Claims Lives Of 2 Young Brothers In East Baltimore

BALTIMORE (WJZ) – An East Baltimore community is devastated after two young brothers were killed in a house fire. Now investigators are trying to figure out what caused it.

When firefighters arrived at the rowhouse, flames shot out the windows and a mother was outside begging for help.

"They was asking, 'Is there any kids in there?' And she was like, 'My babies, my babies, my babies,'" said Shemika Hill, neighbor.

A two-year-old and five-year-old managed to make it out, but two other children were trapped. Three-year-old Nigel Ramirez and his nine-month-old brother, Exekial, died in the flames.

"It's crushing because the little boy always played with my kids," said Ashley Bates, neighbor.

Now, in the light of day, fire investigators are trying to piece together what happened.

"Our investigators are on the scene combing through the home itself, searching for exactly what took place," said Chief Roman Clark, Baltimore City Fire Department.

They still have a number of unanswered questions.

"We do not know whether or not the parents were home with the children," Chief Clark said.

Most of the fire was contained to the second floor, where the two boys were found.

On Thursday, neighbors and friends came out to build a memorial in honor of the two young children.

Sylvia Scott's two grandsons often played with the brothers.

"It's hard because you think about your own grandchildren, and you think about the fact that these are young babies that can't defend themselves," Scott said.

The mother of the children was taken to the hospital with minor burns.

Fire officials say someone has offered to give the family free burial plots for the two young boys.

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