An early morning house fire in DeSoto killed two small children, police say.
The fire in the home at the corner of Wildwood Court and Wildwood street was first reported between 4:00 and 4:30. By the time the first firefighting units arrived flames had completely engulfed the two story house. The children, ages one and two, were found in a bedroom on the second floor.
"The did boost a ladder to the second floor, the second story bedroom. Firefighters entered and got the two children out, carried them out." said Matt Smith, spokesman for the city of DeSoto.
Both died on the way to the hospital.
Witnesses say the rescue workers had little chance of saving the children from the time they arrived.
"It seemed like the fire started in the back toward the garage." said Derrick Anderson, who lives across the cul de sac. "When I went to my back yard it was going up in flames. When I went to the front there was smoke coming out the windows, the door the fire chimney. And I guess the top of the house."
While police said the fire appeared to start in the kitchen, the cause will be determined by the DeSoto Fire Department and the State Fire Marshal's office.
Investigators are also looking into whether smoke alarms in the house had working batteries, Smith said.
