CLEVELAND, Ohio — As football fans across the country prepared to watch the Super Bowl on Sunday, Frank Clark of the Seattle Seahawks took to Twitter to reveal that his father was killed in a house fire Monday in the east side of Cleveland, Ohio.
My father was killed in an arson fire along with 3 other members of my family on the East Side of Cleveland. Pray for me and my family during this time. pic.twitter.com/bjXxHCRe4n
— Frank Clark (@TheRealFrankC_) February 4, 2018
On Sunday night, the Seahawks sent out an official statement is response to the fatal fire:
.@Seahawks prayers for @TheRealFrankC_ pic.twitter.com/nesr7G3cX0
— Seahawks PR (@seahawksPR) February 5, 2018
Subsequent tweets from Cleveland Division of Fire confirmed that four victims died in the fire. Clark said Sunday that three other family members were killed in the fire, but his relation to them it was not immediately clear.
Update on Fatal Fire in 6th Battalion (East Side):
— ClevelandFire (@ClevelandFire) January 30, 2018
All four victims have now been located and recovered. pic.twitter.com/BhmWSZoQGg
Photos below show the damage of the house as firefighters responded:
UPDATE B6 East Side Fire Under Control. House badly compromised. Hindering search efforts. pic.twitter.com/Zx5ipKkggQ
— ClevelandFire (@ClevelandFire) January 30, 2018
Update Fire in B6 East Side. Companies still working. Chief of Division on scene being updated by Battalion Chief and Assistant Chief. pic.twitter.com/QRTTQfTy6q
— ClevelandFire (@ClevelandFire) January 30, 2018
Update B6 East Side. Companies rotating out. Working to turn the tide and return inside. Cold and wind are a challenge. pic.twitter.com/x5VcpOps1h
— ClevelandFire (@ClevelandFire) January 30, 2018
Update in B6 East Side. Exposure house is under control. Reports of two adults and two children missing. Companies still working... pic.twitter.com/zR4Fvfne09
— ClevelandFire (@ClevelandFire) January 30, 2018
Clark has said the fire was an arson, but Paul Orlousky of Cleveland 19 News reported Wednesday 2018 that investigators were still working to determine the cause.
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Clark was a second-round draft pick by the Seahawks in 2015 after playing his college football at the University of Michigan.
In 46 career regular season games, Clark has recorded 22 sacks and five forced fumbles, and enters the 2018-2019 NFL season in the final year of his rookie contract.
Click here to read more on the fire from Cleveland 19 News.
This is a developing story and KIRO 7 will continue to provide updates as they become available.
Cox Media Group