CENTRALIA, Wash. – The Latest on a house fire that killed three children in Washington state (all times local):
11:10 a.m.
Authorities say there's no reason to suspect arson started a house fire that killed three children in western Washington state.
Centralia police Sgt. Carl Buster says their mother tried to save the children as they slept upstairs but wasn't able to reach them early Friday. She escaped the flames.
He says investigators will need to follow up with the woman, but there's no indication of foul play so far.
Buster says the mother was sleeping on the lower level of the two-story home and could not get through thick smoke and flames when she reached the landing of the stairs to the second floor.
Investigators have not determined the cause of the fire but say they have confirmed it started just inside the front door.
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7:05 a.m.
Authorities say a house fire killed three children in western Washington state after their mother wasn't able to rescue them as they slept upstairs.
Police in the city of Centralia say the mother and children were the only people in the two-story home when emergency responders arrived early Friday.
Police Sgt. Carl Buster says the fire woke the woman sleeping downstairs and she couldn't get upstairs to her children. She escaped the blaze and hasn't reported any injuries.
Buster says an officer climbed on the roof and tried to break a window to save the kids, seriously injuring his hand. He was taken to hospital.
Investigators are working to determine the cause of the fire in the city between Seattle and Portland, Oregon. The children's ages haven't been released.
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