A devastating overnight fire tore through a home in Canton, Texas, claiming the lives of three young children and leaving two others fighting for their lives, according to the Van Zandt County fire marshal.
The children who died were 3, 5, and 8 years old. Authorities confirmed the fire broke out in a residence off County Road 4127 in Canton shortly after midnight.
Emergency crews were dispatched around 12:30 a.m. following reports of people trapped inside the burning structure. Firefighters arrived to find a chaotic and deadly scene at the residential property.
A 10-year-old boy and an adult woman were pulled from the home and rushed to Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas. Both were listed in critical condition as of Wednesday morning.
The Van Zandt County fire marshal is leading the investigation into what sparked the deadly blaze. Officials have not yet released a cause and said further details would be made available later Wednesday.
The tragedy marks one of the deadliest residential fires in the region in recent memory. The loss of three children in a single incident has shaken the tight-knit Canton community located roughly 60 miles east of Dallas.
Authorities have not identified the victims pending family notification. Investigators are expected to remain on scene as the examination of the fire’s origin continues throughout the day.