ANDERSON, Ind. --
Two children were killed when fire consumed an Anderson home just before the New Year.
The home, at 420 W. 7th St., was already engulfed by flames by the time firefighters arrived just after 11 p.m. Wednesday, Anderson Fire Chief David Clendenen told 6News' Ben Morriston.
Neighbors said nine people lived in the home, including five children. One man tried to save the children, identified as Hayley Bouslog, 2, and Jessica Bouslog, 1, from the flames.
"He busted the window out right across from me. Black smoke came rolling out and then balls of flame came out," said neighbor Thomas Gann.
The two girls were discovered dead in a back bedroom, Clendenen said. Everyone else escaped safely.
"There was everybody standing outside screaming. I look up and the roof was on fire," said neighbor Danielle Layne. "There was little kids and someone's screaming 'My babies.'"
Firefighters had a hard time reaching the room the children were in because of the layout of the home.
"They had to crawl through the house that was fully involved and come back down a long hallway," Clendenen said.
Neighbors said they were touched by the tragedy, even though they didn't know the home's occupants well.
"This is a rental home ... so you really don't get to know your neighbors," said Jonesy Green. "I feel bad for them."
The cause of the fire remained under investigation.
