An early morning house fire in Hamtramck, Michigan left four people, including children, killed as firefighters failed to reach them on time, fire officials said.

Fire Chief Paul Wik said the firefighters were about halfway through the downstairs but pulled out of the burning house because of too much fire.

Like Us on Facebook

Wik confirmed that among those who perished in the morning blaze were children but did not say how many.

An earlier radio report said two of the four victims were kids.

The identities of the victims have not been made confirmed and made public, said Wik.

WWJ News Radio reported that the victims - two 47-year-old adults, an 11-year-old child and a 7-year-old child - were found upstairs in a front bedroom.

The blaze, tapped at about 1:50 am on Tuesday, hit the house on Yemans Street, northwest of Caniff Avenue and Conant Street.

The two-story house was already fully engulfed when firefighters arrived. The victims were sleeping in upstairs bedrooms, authorities said.

"When our guys arrived on the scene, the back of the house was fully involved. They went into the front door and tried to get to the upstairs, but could not," said. "They had to pull out and begin a defensive approach on the fire."

"This is very tragic for everyone," Wilk said. "And something where we have to worry about not only the family but the guys, the firefighters, and how it affects them in the future."

Wik said about 80 percent of the house burned before the fire was totally put out.

The fire chief said the freezing temperature added to the problems that firefighters faced when battling the blaze.

The Detroit Fire Department has joined in the investigation to determine the cause of the blaze.

TagsHamtramck Fire, Michigan Fire