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9 Dead In Early Morning Memphis House Fire

Posted at 6:03 AM, Sep 12, 2016
and last updated 2016-09-12 11:19:46-04

Memphis Fire Director Gina Sweat says 9 people are dead after an early morning house fire.

She says one child is fighting for life in a hospital.

Fire officials had said earlier that at least seven people perished after a blaze enveloped the home early Monday.

WREG reported that family members have given different numbers.

Fire Department Lt. Wayne Cooke said at the time that four adults and three children were dead and at least three other children were taken to Le Bonheur Children's Hospital in "extremely critical condition."

Cook said the first firefighters who arrived at the scene about 1:30 a.m. saw smoking coming out of the one-story home where a family of 10 lived. It took about 15 minutes for firefighters to extinguish the blaze.

Officials are trying to determine what caused the fire.