Missouri house fire kills 5, including 3 children

PLYMOUTH, Mo. (AP) — Authorities say five people, including three children, were killed in a New Year's Day house fire in northern Missouri.

Carroll County Sheriff Troy Hofstetter says the fire started early Friday in the basement of the home near the small town of Plymouth.

The Kansas City Star reports that a 23-year-old woman, a 24-year-old man, two 11-year-old boys and a 4-month old girl died in the blaze. Authorities have not released their identities.

Hofstetter says two other people escaped from the home, and one of them went to a neighbor's house and called 911 around 5 a.m.

He says the blaze was mainly contained to the basement.

Hofstetter says the cause of fire remains under investigation, but an unattended fireplace may be to blame.