5 children perish in house fire as father shops for Christmas gifts
Five children tragically lost their lives in a house fire in Arizona while their father was out shopping for Christmas gifts.
The oldest child was just 13 years old, and the youngest was only two.
The fire broke out in the two-story home in Bullhead City, located 100 miles south of Las Vegas, on Saturday evening.
According to authorities, the fire started in the downstairs entranceway and quickly spread, blocking the safe exit for the four siblings aged 2, 4, 5, and 13, as well as an 11-year-old visiting relative.
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The father reported that he was absent for approximately 2.5 hours to buy groceries and Christmas gifts during the time of the tragic incident.
Neighbours attempted to rescue the children by using hoses and ladders to combat the fire, but they were unaware that there were people inside the burning home.
The police have confirmed that there were no adults present at home when the fire started.
A vigil is planned in a local park for Wednesday night, and a GoFundMe drive has raised over $14,000 (£11,000) to aid the families in covering funeral expenses.
The authorities have not yet released the names of the children or their father as investigations into the fire continue.