A house fire near Slagle in central Polk County has taken the lives of two children early Wednesday morning.
What We Know: The fire started just after 2:30 a.m. at a home on 142nd Road. Crews arrived quickly and found the father had escaped the house but two children, ages four and five, were still trapped inside.
The four-year-old child died at the scene and the five-year-old died later in the hospital. The house was deemed a total loss.
What Remains Unclear: Any official cause of the fire has not been given. The Missouri Fire Marshal is still investigating the incident.
(Photo Courtesy of the Central Polk County Fire Protection District)