Boy Found Locked in Dog Cage During Ohio House Fire

Emergency crews responded to the blaze on Forest View Drive around 12:30 a.m., where three people who had escaped were waiting outside. Firefighters rescued the boy, who survived and is now in the care of Mahoning County Children Services. The child's father, identified only as Frank, insists the situation has been misunderstood, claiming his son sometimes climbed into the cage to play and locked himself in during the fire.

Frank said he tried to free his son with his bare hands, injuring himself, before a neighbor brought a knife to cut the cage open. He said he was the last to escape due to health issues, and both his children have been placed in Children Services custody while the agency, along with Youngstown police and fire departments, investigate. Frank has a shelter care hearing Wednesday at 3 p.m. Richard Tvaroch, Mahoning County Children Services' Executive Director, declined to comment on specifics due to the active investigation. If they ask me anything, I'll tell them anything, Frank said.