EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. — Five children are dead after a fire broke out in an Illinois apartment, authorities said.
BREAKING: We just learned the fifth child also died. @KMOV #n4tm https://t.co/6h31IYRnL0
— Paige Hulsey (@paigehulsey) August 6, 2021
According to KMOV and KTVI, the incident occurred early Friday near the intersection of 29th and State streets in East St. Louis. Firefighters arrived to find two children dead in a bedroom, authorities said. Three other children died after firefighters removed them from the home, KMOV reported.
East St. Louis Fire Department Assistant Chief George McClellan said the blaze began when the mother of the victims, ages 2 to 9, left the home to pick someone up, KTVI reported. McClellan said the woman attempted to re-enter the home to save the children multiple times but was unsuccessful, according to KMOV.
No further details, including the victims’ identities or what caused the fire, were immediately available.
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