Five children, including 1-year-old twins, died in a late-night fire that swept through a house after neighbors were awakened by a loud boom, firefighters said. The only survivor was the children's mother, who jumped out of a second-floor window Sunday night, according to Youngstown Fire Capt. Kurt Wright. The other three children who died were ages 9, 3, and 2, he said. Investigators were just beginning to search for a cause of the fire, per the AP. Officials said so far, nothing indicates the fire was suspicious. Deborah Rivera, who lives across the street, told the Vindicator she heard a loud boom and called 911. Her boyfriend said flames were shooting out of the first-floor windows.
Neighbors told WFMJ the family moved into the house about six months ago. The two-story wood home was built more than 90 years ago. "We have a relatively young department and most [of] the guys have children," said Youngstown Fire Chief Barry Finley. "So it hits pretty hard, and the fact that it's so close to Christmas hits even harder." Firefighters found flames throughout the home's first floor when they arrived and were able to pull out three of the children, but they died at a hospital, Wright said. The mother was taken to a hospital and is being treated for injuries.
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