Texas house fire kills 3 children, critically injures relatives in Texas
CONROE, Texas -- Three children were killed and several of their relatives were injured early Friday morning when a fire erupted within a house in Texas.
The blaze was reported shortly before 4 a.m. near Conroe, which is located about 40 miles north of Houston. Flames and heat initially drove away emergency responders who attempted to enter the home. The fire quickly spread to two nearby residences, which sustained minor damage.
According to CBS affiliate KHOU-TV, three children -- who ranged in age from 6 to 11 -- were reported missing despite their family's efforts to remove everyone from the home.
The children were pronounced dead at the scene after authorities located their bodies amid the debris of the residence, Montgomery County sheriff's Lt. Scott Spencer said. Their identities are being withheld pending family notification.
A father, a grandfather and a 10-year-old boy were transported to a hospital for treatment of non-life threatening burns, KHOU-TV reported.
Three police officers, who were among the first to respond to the scene, suffered smoke inhalation and other injuries.
Church members, including a minister and a bishop, arrived to the scene shortly after the blaze was contained. They told KHOU-TV the home was owned by Pastor Bobby Johnson Jr., of the Thergood Memorial Church of God in Christ in Willis. The group said the pastor was among the victims who were hospitalized in critical condition.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.