Update: Six Children Die in South Bend House Fire

Source: (Photo by David Pralh/Getty Images.)

UPDATE: The sixth child involved in the fire, 11-year-old Angel Smith, was pronounced dead Friday morning.

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SOUTH BEND, IND — Five children died in a Sunday evening house fire on North LaPorte Avenue in South Bend.

Firefighters arrived after 6 p.m. to find the fire consuming the first and second floors. They rescued six trapped individuals from the second story. One adult escaped with minor injuries.

They also found six children; five died at the scene, while the sixth, an 11-year-old, was taken to Memorial Hospital and later airlifted to a burn center in Indianapolis.

“As we mourn the lives lost, we also extend our deepest sympathies to the families affected by this tragedy,” said South Bend Fire Chief Carl Buchanon.

He emphasized, “The South Bend Fire Department is committed to providing support to these families…and is working closely with local & State authorities to investigate the cause of the fire.”

One firefighter was hurt when he fell through the second-story floor. He was released from the hospital and is expected to recover fully.

Buchanon is urging residents to test their smoke alarms. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.