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Authorities seeking cause of fire that killed 3 children

Posted at 6:21 PM, Mar 12, 2018
and last updated 2018-03-12 18:21:08-04

EASTPOINTE, Mich. (AP) — Authorities are trying to determine the cause and origin of a house fire that killed three children in suburban Detroit.

Eric Keiser, Eastpointe’s acting director of public safety, told The Associated Press on Monday that an initial investigation hasn’t shown signs of arson, but that extensive damage has complicated investigative efforts. He says fire officials didn’t find working smoke detectors in the home, which caught fire early Saturday.

Found dead in the home were two boys — 8-year-old Zyahir Swain and 9-year-old Brendon Mahone — and a girl — 4-year-old Madison Adams. Keiser says two women who were the mothers of the children lived there but weren’t home at the time.

He says authorities are interviewing relatives and neighbors, adding it’s “a very emotionally charged, very tragic event.”