Neighbor recalls fatal Galveston house fire: 'What room are the kids in?'

Houston-based media outlets reported that a Galveston house fire on Saturday (April 30) claimed the lives of two children.

Authorities said the fire broke out at the residence on Avenue K near 21st Street a little after 2:30 a.m., per Houston CBS affiliate KHOU. The victims were a 4-year-old boy and a 5-year-old girl, according to the station.

Galveston Assistant Fire Chief Richie Pearson told KHOU that the children's father was also in the home but was able to escape.

Firefighters took the children out of the burning house and first responders rushed them to nearby John Sealy Hospital where they perished, according to the station.

Houston NBC affiliate KPRC reported that three neighbors who each served in the military attempted to perform a rescue upon learning about the fire but authorities prevented them from entering the residence.

The children were reportedly in a back room of the house.

“[The neighbor] yelled, ‘Call for help the house is on fire," Navy veteran Warren Mies, who resides behind the home, recalled to KPRC. “Trying to get inside the window because we asked my neighbor, ‘What room are the kids in?’ He told us they were in the back bedroom.”

According to the Galveston Fire Department, Houston ABC affiliate KTRK reported, heavy smoke and fire were detected in the home's second floor.

The house itself sustained a lot of damage, per KTRK.

One neighbor, James Rodgers, told the station that the children who died were his cousin and niece, respectively.

As of this writing, an investigation into what caused the blaze was being conducted by the Galveston fire marshal.