AKRON, Ohio -- A house fire in Akron claimed two lives Thursday morning.

NewsChannel5's Debora Lee reported that Nellie Gissendanner, 52, and her two grandsons, ages 1 and 2, were inside the home when the flames broke out. Authorities said that Gissendanner and the 1-year-old, Xavier, died.

Relatives and neighbors standing outside the home said there was a feeling of hopelessness as they watched Gissendanner standing near a window, begging for help. She was trapped inside the home with her two young grandsons.

Gissendanner's son, who lives in the home, was seen outside, screaming for help. He knew his mother and nephews were trapped inside the house, NewsChannel5 reported.

He and a neighbor tried twice to make a rescue through the back door. Both times, the thick and billowing smoke pushed them back.

"Their bathroom has a back door, and that's where the mother and I believe the grandson (were)," neighbor Leah Junius said.

When firefighters arrive, those who had attempted a rescue told them where in the home the three people were trapped.

"We went through the bottom panel of the door and found a woman and a baby there and extracted them from the second floor," firefighter Kenny Smith said.

But there was another child in the home, so firefighters entered again and pulled a toddler from his crib.

Officials later reported the deaths. The 2-year-old boy, Syyer, is listed in critical condition in the burn unit.

There's no word yet on how the fire started. Officials continue to investigate.