4 Children, 1 Adult Killed In Overnight Fire

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Four children and one adult were killed in an overnight fire Saturday.

Authorities were called to a two-story apartment building at 715 Galli Court after 1 a.m.

NBC 4's Tacoma Newsome reported from the scene.

Fire officials said around 1 a.m. this morning, 12- and 15-year-old sisters were told by a friend their apartment was on fire; the sisters were nearby at a friend's house playing video games. When firefighters arrived, they found the Galli Court apartment fully engulfed and with the sisters outside.

They tried to conduct a search and rescue inside but had to eventually retreat because the condition of the building quickly deteriorated.

Firefighters fought the flames from the outside and were eventually able to get it under control.

Initial reports at 2 a.m. indicated that at least two people were killed in the apartment-building fire. 

By 5:15 a.m., Columbus Fire's Battalion Chief Doug Smith confirmed five people were killed.

Newsome reported later with information that four children, ages 5, 7, 10 and 12, and a 40-year-old woman were killed.

Columbus Fire, Columbus police and the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, arson investigators and homicide detectives were on the scene for an investigation.

Investigators continued to work to figure out a cause.

Neighbors were devastated. Firefighters said this kind of tragedy weighs heavily on their hearts. Firefighters continued to investigate the cause.

Red Cross was on the scene to help the families of the victims and the residents of at least 2 other adjoining apartments.

Arson investigators thought the fire was accidental and might have started in the rear of the apartment.

The names of the victims weren't being released.

Stay tuned to NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com for more information on this developing story.

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