Philadelphia house fire kills four children

Four children were killed when a fire ripped through a Philadelphia home.

Four children, all aged under five, were killed in a fire in Philadelphia that ripped through several row houses early Saturday, the authorities said.

The fire, in the city's southwest section, was reported around 2:45 am, said Derrick Sawyer, the city's fire commissioner.

When firefighters arrived, four homes were ablaze, and the fire eventually spread to eight homes.

The children who were killed, all younger than 5, were in one home and appeared to be relatives, Sawyer said.

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Five other members of their family were taken to a hospital with minor injuries. Officials did not release the names of the victims, but local news media reported that they were twin 4-year-old girls, a 4-year-old boy and a 1-month-old boy.

"This is a tragic, tragic day for the city of Philadelphia," Sawyer told reporters.

"We lost four children today. I want everybody to understand that fire is everyone's fight, not just the fire department. It's everyone's fight."

At least 42 people were displaced by the fire, fire officials said. By 8:30 a.m., an American Red Cross shelter at a local high school had checked in about 28 people who were affected by the fire, Red Cross officials said.

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Philadelphia house fire kills four children