Trending

4 children, 2 adults dead after fire in Virginia home

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. — Six people, including four children, are dead and two others remain hospitalized after a fire in Virginia, authorities said.

>> Read more trending news

The fire occurred in a home in North Chesterfield early Friday morning, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported.

The four children killed ranged in age from 2 to 12 years old, WTVR reported. The identities of the victims have not been released, the television station reported.

Chesterfield County Fire Chief Edward “Loy” Senter said firefighters responded to the single-family, two-story home just after midnight on Friday. There were nine people inside the home, the Times-Dispatch reported.

“Firefighters immediately began searches of the first floor assisted by the second and third arriving engine companies while at the same time an aggressive attack on the main body of fire was initiated,” Senter told reporters during a Friday morning briefing.

Senter said one victim was found dead in a bedroom where the fire is believed to have started, the Times-Dispatch reported. Several other victims were located on the first floor and were removed by firefighters.

“Multiple other victims were located on the second floor and were removed by firefighters using ladders in the rear of the residence,” Senter said.

Senter said eight people were taken to area hospitals, WTVR reported. Three children died Friday, and the Chesterfield Fire Marshal’s Office was notified of a fourth child’s death late Friday, Senter said.

Senter said the office was notified that a second woman had died early Saturday, raising the total to six.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, WTVR reported.

“For whatever reason, (the victims) were not able to get out or did not have enough advance warning to get out,” Senter told reporters. “All of that will be determined as part of the investigation.”