VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) -- A woman and two girls were killed and another three people were hospitalized after a house fire broke out early Saturday morning, fire officials said.
A man and a woman were in critical condition and a girl was in fair condition at a Norfolk hospital, Battalion Chief Michael Wade said.
Names of the victims were not released Saturday, but Wade said those who died were a 43-year-old woman and girls ages 4 and 9.
There were seven family members staying in the house when the fire erupted around 3:30 a.m., Wade said.
Fire investigators were still trying to determine the cause of the fire, which broke out at the back of the house, Wade said. The family's Christmas tree did not appear to have caused the fire, he said.
Firefighters rescued the woman and girl who were later hospitalized, Wade said. They also brought out the 4-year-old, who died later. The 43-year-old woman and 9-year-old child were found dead in the back room of the house, he said.
The man who was hospitalized got out of the house himself, Wade said, and a 14-year-old made it out safely.
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