The fire destroyed the house in the city of Clinton
CLINTON (Mississippi, US), Feb 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A mother and her six children, including a one-year-old baby, died after a fire destroyed their house in the US state of Mississippi, officials say.
The father was the only survivor of the Saturday blaze that engulfed the wooden house in the city of Clinton.
He was taken to a hospital suffering from smoke inhalation and second-degree burns.
The cause of the fire is being investigated.
Local officials said there was no suspicion of “foul play”, and told US media an electrical failure could have caused the blaze.
The house in Clinton, some 16km from the state capital, Jackson, had been built around 1951. Burglar bars could be seen in some windows, which could have prevented the family from escaping.
The mother was a primary school teacher aged 33 and the children – five boys and one girl – ranged in ages from one to 15, local authorities said.
Five of the children were found huddled in one bedroom while the mother and another child were in a different bedroom, Fire Chief Jeff Blackledge said, adding that the father was injured as he tried to save his family.
It took firefighters about 40 minutes to control the blaze that happened at 00:30 local time.
On Facebook, the City of Clinton said it had been a “tragic day”, adding: “We ask this community to wrap each other in prayers and kindness as we all grieve together.” — NNN-AGENCIES