Jan. 11--HALTOM CITY -- Three children were fatally injured in a house fire Thursday evening, and a woman who was pulled from the house at the same time was also reported dead.
None of the victims had been identified by late Thursday, but were described by officials at the scene as a 6-month-old girl, a boy of 5 or 6, a girl about 10, and a woman, possibly in her 50s.
The children were pronounced dead at Cook Children's Medical Center, Winnie King, a hospital spokeswoman, said at 9 p.m.
The woman was taken in critical condition to North Hills Hospital in North Richland Hills, said Matt Zavadsky, a MedStar spokesman.
Ambulance crews were told that the woman died, he said. A hospital spokeswoman declined to provide information.
The fire was reported at 5:02 p.m. in a call from the 4900 block of Colonial Park Drive, said Haltom City Fire Chief Steve Ross.
When ambulances arrived, firefighters had pulled two victims into the front yard and two more were pulled out not long afterward, Zavadsky said.
Among the neighbors watching Thursday, none knew the victims' names, but they remembered the little boy, who was frequently outside looking for other kids to play with him.
Phillip Heard, who lives with his family across the street, said that when he was out working in his garage, the boy would walk up and ask him what he was doing.
Heard said he was outside about 5 p.m. Thursday when he saw smoke billowing from a downstairs window of the house. No cars were parked out front, and there was no other indication of whether anyone was there.
He said he yelled, "Your house is on fire! Hey! Is anyone in there?"
Getting no response, he dialed 911.
Eight companies responded, including units from Haltom City, Fort Worth, North Richland Hills and Watauga, Ross said.
The first unit reported smoke coming from the second floor.
"The fire was put out quickly, and they did a thorough, rapid search," Ross said.
The cause of the fire, where it started and where the victims were overcome were still under investigation Thursday night, Ross said.
Very little damage could be seen on the exterior of the house.
As darkness fell, investigators were coming and going from the house, which still was decorated for Christmas. The garage door was open, and inside were children's bicycles, one with training wheels.
Clothing for little girls hung on a rolling rack.
Bill Miller, 817-390-7684
Twitter: @Bill_MillerST
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