On Saturday, Dec. 16, a Bullhead City father left his house to purchase groceries and Christmas presents. During his absence, five kids who were at his residence home alone on Anna Circle perished in a fire.

According to Bullhead City officials, an individual told the investigators who had come to tackle the fire that they had been gone for around two and a half hours.

Fire officials reported that five kids, a 13-year-old, 5-year-old, 4-year-old girl, and a 2-year-old, were all located in the same bedroom of the two-story duplex. The youngest four were siblings and an 11-year-old relative was visiting at the time.

Neighbors made attempts to try to save the children in the home by using an extension ladder to reach the upstairs bedroom in the duplex. Tragically, no one was able to escape.

Fire investigators determined that the blaze began in the downstairs foyer, making it virtually impossible for the kids in the upstairs bedroom to escape. The fire spread along the sole staircase, blocking the victims from exiting, according to fire officials.

Reportedly, a staff member from the Bullhead City Fire District was the grandfather of the children.

An investigation is underway by Lake Havasu City and ATF Fire investigators to determine the source of the fire. In order to ascertain what had caused the fire, objects that may provide evidence were gathered. The analysis of the fire-related debris will be done by chemists and electrical engineers from the ATF.

The Mohave County Medical Examiner’s Office is in charge of officially identifying the five victims, whose names are being kept confidential.

Authorities have requested that anybody with photographs or recordings of the fire contact the Bullhead City Police Department at 928-763-9200.