Mobile Home Fire Near Prosser Kills 2 Children

Benton County Sheriff Jerry Hatcher says the children were home alone at the time of the early Thursday morning fire in Prosser that killed two children, a 10-year-old boy and 7-year-old girl.

Hatcher says the fire broke out around 6am in the 800 block of Higdon Road. According to officials, people coming home from work saw the smoke, then flames, other neighbors pounded on windows but were not able to access the home.

Hatcher says the girl was pronounced dead at the scene, the boy was rushed to a nearby hospital but did not survive. The investigation continues, officials have not said yet what caused the blaze, however one of the initial focus areas is the home's smoke detectors.

According to our news partner KNDU-TV, fire crews discovered the two inside as they beat back the flames and waded through the smoke.

The parents were not home at the time, authorities have not said why.