Firefighters battled smoke and flames at a Grandview Heights duplex Thursday morning.

Two families with children were inside the duplex, located along Wyandotte Road, when it caught fire around 4 a.m.

One victim was forced to jump from a second story window to escape.

Melissa Bussey and her four children were inside one half of the duplex when the fire started.

"I was just screaming, 'Fire,'" said Bussey.

Bussey said that her first goal was to get the children outside, but then they lost power.

"The lights went out when I was on the phone with 911. So, you can't see, you can't see to grab your shoes, you can't see to make sure your kids are out of the house," she said.

It was not until she was outside that she could be sure the children all made it.

The fire appeared to start on the first floor, according to fire officials.

The families are still hoping for answers, but they are thankful to be alive.

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