3 children killed in Montgomery County fire that tore through 3 homes

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Friday, May 12, 2017
Massive Montgomery County fire killed 3 children
Massive Montgomery County fire killed 3 childrenA small community in Montgomery County is mourning the loss of three children who died in a house fire early Friday.

TAMINA, Texas (KTRK) -- Three children have died after a fire tore through three homes in Montgomery County. At least six people were injured.

The fire started around 4 a.m.

Fire officials said a grandmother and grandfather, their adult daughter and her four children and the uncle of the children were all in their homes at 19000 block of Johnson Road near Tamina when the fire started.

Authorities have identified the deceased children as 13-year-old Terrance (TJ) Mitchell, 6-year-old Kaila Mitchell and 5-year-old Kyle Mitchell.

The grandparents Bobby and Carrie Johnson, the mother of the children, her 10-year-old son Adrian Mitchell and the uncle Jarvis Johnson were injured.

Three police officers, one with Oak Ridge North Police Department and two with Shenandoah Police Department, suffered smoke inhalation after they tried to rescue family members from the flames. A deputy with the Montgomery County Sheriff's Department, who also attempted to rescue the victims was not hurt

Click here to see body camera footage showing first responders' initial attempts to rescue the family.

Family friends told ABC13 that the fire may have started in the back of one of the homes and spread to two others.

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At least six people were injured in the fire, with three children unaccounted for.

Two boys and a girl, believed to be between the ages of 6 and 13, were killed, according to the Montgomery County Fire Marshal. A photo of the children involved in the fire was given to Eyewitness News by a family member.

Officials said the children were trapped upstairs in one of the homes when it collapsed.

The 10-year-old child, his uncle and grandfather suffered critical burns, officials said. The mother of the children and the grandmother suffered minor injuries. We're told the father of the children is working out of state.

Neighbors told ABC13 that the pastor of Thergood Memorial Church of God In Christ, Bobby Johnson, is the homeowner and was one of the people hurt in the fire.

Fire officials said there were eight people living in the home.

There's no word on the cause of the fire.

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