INDIANAPOLIS -- The man who died in a Friday evening house fire was trying to save his two grandsons, according to fire officials.
Jeff Sullivan, 51, and his 10-month-old grandson, Damon East, were both killed in the fire on the 700 block of East Terrace Street on Indianapolis' south side. Sullivan's 4-year-old grandson was rescued from the fire and taken to Riley Hospital in critical condition.
At a candlelight vigil Saturday night, friends remembered Sullivan fondly.
"Jeff was a great guy. He loved his pets. He loved his grandkids. He loved his daughter. He was a great guy. He'd help anybody in need. Good heart and loved his grandkids," said Chelsey Kline, family friend.
Firefighters were called to the home just after 11 p.m. after they received multiple calls about a house fire with people trapped inside.
Indianapolis Fire Department Battalion Chief Rita Reith said when firefighters arrived they found heavy flames and smoke coming from the second story of the home.
Investigators said Sullivan and another man were sitting in the living room watching TV when they smelled smoke. Sullivan ran upstairs to the children and the second man was pushed back by the intense heat and smoke.
Two neighbors also tried to enter the house to rescue the man and children, but they had to turn around because of the intense heat and smoke. Both of those men were treated on the scene for smoke inhalation.
Firefighters entered the home after they arrived and found two children and an adult male in the upstairs area. Sullivan and the infant, Damon, were both pronounced dead at the scene. The 4-year-old was taken to Riley Children's Hospital where fire officials initially said he had died, but he was later revived. He remains in extreme critical condition. A cat named Rowdy was also killed in the fire.
#BREAKING UPDATE: @IFD_NEWS telling us now that the toddler pronounced dead after a house fire on East Terrace has been revived. @rtv6 pic.twitter.com/Ejrxq1WIzn
— Paris Lewbel (@PLewbel) March 4, 2017
Reith called it a "tragic" situation.
"Yeah, I'm in shock man. What a good man. This neighborhood is going to miss that. We're going to miss him. The south side is going to miss a good man. Indianapolis is going to miss a good man," said James Canada, family friend.
Witnesses told firefighters that they saw Sullivan standing at the upstairs window holding the infant and tried to convince him to jump, but for some reason he never did.
“They were encouraging him to jump out the window,” said Reith. “He was found in the area that the other children were found so obviously he was trying to protect them.”
Investigators say an unattended space heater is what caused the fire.
#UPDATE: IFD's Arson Unit and IMPD's Homicide Unit have been requested to the scene to investigate. @rtv6 pic.twitter.com/1ZzaNx6f2V
— Paris Lewbel (@PLewbel) March 4, 2017
**Based upon information from fire officials, we originally reported that the 4-year-old died at Riley Children's Hospital but later officials said the child was revived and was in critical condition.**
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