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Local residents at a funeral service for the victims of the house fire in Philadelphia on Wednesday
Photo: Matt Rourke / AP
According to media reports, it is one of the deadliest house fires in years: In Philadelphia, in the US state of Pennsylvania, a three-story row house burned down on Wednesday morning local time - twelve people died, including at least eight children.
Now those responsible are investigating clues that a toddler could have started the fire.
Child is said to have played with a lighter and accidentally lit a Christmas tree
The Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper cites investigative documents that a five-year-old child started the fire while playing with a lighter and accidentally lit a Christmas tree.
The child was able to save himself and is said to have told several people in front of the door that it was responsible for the fire and that his mother had died.
The responsible authorities did not confirm all the details - only that a letter of motivation for a search warrant also stated that a "child aged five years or younger" could have been involved in the start of the fire, as "NBC News" reports.
The fire brigade put out 50 minutes
According to media reports, the fire in the house broke out on Wednesday morning, local time, and the fire brigade arrived at the house at 6:40 a.m.
It took them 50 minutes to extinguish the fire and saved a child from the flames, who later succumbed to his injuries.
The house is in the northern part of Fairmount.
According to the local fire brigade, 26 people lived there - 8 on the lower two floors, 18 on the upper two.
"That's a lot of people for a building that is intended for two families," said the fire department spokesman for "NBC News".
The house belongs to the municipal housing authority.
According to "NBC News", this did not comment on the case.
We are shocked by this tragic loss - including many children - and my thoughts go with the relatives and friends of the victims.
I cannot express how inconceivable all of this is for them, "the city's mayor Jim Kenney said in a statement on Wednesday.
has / AP