Apartment Fire Kills Four in Georgia

GAINESVILLE, Ga. (AP) -- Food left cooking on a stove started an apartment fire that killed four young children after the woman who was watching them left to use a pay phone, authorities said.

The woman was the mother of two of the children and was baby sitting the other two Monday, Gainesville city spokeswoman Catiel Thilenius said.

When the woman returned and saw the smoke coming from the unit, she tried to go in after the children, but police wouldn't let her, said neighbor Maria Magdalena Chavez.

State fire marshals said the fire was caused by food left cooking on the stove when the woman walked to a nearby store to use a pay phone.

Fire investigators said the children likely died of smoke inhalation. They were removed from the apartment and taken to a hospital, where they were pronounced dead.

Gainesville is about 45 miles northeast of Atlanta.