Officials identify two women who died in East Side apartment fire

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Officials have identified the two women who died in a fire on Cleveland’s East Side on Thursday morning .

Markita Smith, 42, and Mary Smith, 71, both of Cleveland, were in an apartment at East 91st and Wade Park Avenue, according to the office of the Cuyahoga County medical examiner. Though the two share a last name, officials were unable to say if they were related.

At about 2:40 a.m. Thursday, crews responded to the intersection, where they found a two-story rowhouse on fire.

Firefighters took the women from the house, and they were later pronounced dead at MetroHealth Medical Center, according to the medical examiner’s office.

The blaze caused more than $200,000 in damage, according to officials.

Fire officials said candles started the fire.