EAST ST. LOUIS — Three people trapped inside of a house when a fire broke out Friday morning are confirmed dead, authorities said.

The three victims were Sylvester Reeves, 94; her son, Pierre Manley Sr., 56, and Cheryle M. Johnson, 59, according to St. Clair County Coroner Calvin Dye Sr. Dye said the three died from smoke inhalation and were pronounced dead at the scene.

All three were residents of the home, at 3316 Bond Avenue.

Firefighters were dispatched shortly before 7 a.m. It took about two and a half hours to control the fire and extinguish hotspots, said East St. Louis Assistant Fire Chief Ed Wayne.

Wayne said firefighters arrived to find the two-story wooden house engulfed in smoke with flames shooting from the back and front of the house near the roof.

“It took a heavy hit u

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