A Mississippi woman and her six children died early Saturday morning after their house burst into flames, officials said.
The fire broke out around 12:30 a.m. in Clinton, Fire Chief Jeff Blackledge told WLBT.
The mother was 33, and her children ranged in age from 1 year old to 15 years old, according to the Clarion-Ledger. The father of the family was taken to an area hospital with smoke inhalation and burns, along with cuts and bruises, WLBT reported.
“He was worried and concerned,” Mark Jones, director of communications with the city of Clinton, told the television station. “He did not want to leave the scene... He was very concerned about his family.”
Jones said at this stage, the cause of the fire is not unknown. He did say, however, the the age of the home -- it was built in 1951 -- could have been a factor, WLBT reported.
“We ask for your prayers for this family, this father, as well as the firemen with Clinton Fire Department who had to see this as well,” Jones told reporters.