Heartbreaking: Mother Loses Her Five Children In Devastating Apartment Fire On Her Birthday in St. Louis

Five children, all under the age of ten, who were left alone at home died in an early Friday fire at an apartment complex in Illinois, according to officials.

Firefighters were called to the building in East St. Louis shortly before 3 a.m. and discovered two toddlers who had already perished inside a bedroom. According to officials, the three other youngsters were motionless on the kitchen floor.

East St. Louis apartment fire kills 5 children early Friday Morning
Assistant Chief of the East St. Louis said the fire started when the mother of the five children went to pick up another adult from work. When the mom returned home, the fire had already started. pic.twitter.com/vclxOD16b8

— Kelley Hoskins FOX2 News St.Louis (@KelleyHoskins) August 6, 2021

East St. Louis Assistant Fire Chief George McClellan said the children’s mother had left the house to pick up another adult from their job and returned to discover the house on fire. He indicated that she entered the building multiple times in an attempt to save her children.

The origin of the fire near East St. Louis, Missouri, which is situated across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, is being investigated. According to officials, seven additional families were affected by the fire, but they were not at home when it began.