Authorities say 2 children killed by Waterloo fire

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) - Firefighters say two children have died in a Waterloo house fire.

The fire was reported a little after 4 a.m. Thursday. Two people who saw the smoke followed it to the home and tried to use a garden hose on the flames after they called 911.

The Courier reports that 9-year-old Amari Burkett and 6-year-old Ava Everman were removed from the home and pronounced dead at a local hospital. A woman also pulled from the house was taken to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City. A third child, a girl, was able to escape by crawling through her bedroom window.

Firefighters say several dogs and a cat where killed in the fire. Officials say there were more than a dozen pets in the home.

Officials are investigating.

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Information from: Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, http://www.wcfcourier.com