An early morning fire in a townhouse in Clairton has claimed the lives of three children.

The fire call came in at 1:13 a.m. in the home in the 2800 block of Soltis Drive in the Century Towne Homes complex, according to Chief Deputy Fire Marshal Donald A. Brucker of the Allegheny County Fire Marshal's Office. Firefighters battled flames and heavy smoke in an attempt to rescue the children from an upstairs bedroom.

Two Clairton police officers, Tim Huschak and Keith Zenkovich, were the first to arrive at the home, Clairton fire Chief John Lattanzi said.

A large crowd of distraught people had gathered outside, and the police officers reported the apartment was engulfed in flames.

The two policemen, both experienced firefighters with knowledge that children were trapped inside, could not get past the front door of the apartment because of the heat and thick, black smoke.

Firefighters arrived within minutes, Chief Lattanzi said. The heat was too intense for them as well, and they worked instead on knocking down the flames.

With four fire companies from Clairton and nearby communities, and a fifth company on standby for emergency extractions, the blaze quickly was contained. It did not spread to the adjoining units in the row, nor did it travel through the common roof of the structure.

Two of the victims were found in a rear bedroom, one under the bed and the other on top of the bed. The third child was found on the bed in a front bedroom, Chief Lattanzi said.

The children were taken to Jefferson Hospital where they were pronounced dead.

The Allegheny County Medical Examiner's office identified the victims as Rachel Finn, 9, Deausha Faulk, 6, and Michael Zigler, 2. Cause of death has not been determined. Chief Lattanzi said it appeared the three perished from smoke inhalation, likely before the first responders were on the scene.

Two teens reportedly had been injured, but only one, Tiarra Williams, 17, was admitted to UPMC Mercy where she is in fair condition, a hospital spokeswoman said. Tiarra is the older sister of Michael Zeigler.

Police said Markell Finn-Faulk, 29, escaped the blaze with her daughter, Essence, 14, and a son, Daishawn Smith, 11. Ms. Finn-Faulk's daughters Rachel and Deausha did not make it out.

Essence was not injured, police said. Daishawn was in good condition at UPMC Mercy, a hospital spokewoman said.

Daishawn is in good condition at UPMC Mercy.

Tiarra Williams, 17, also evacuated safely. She and her brother, Michael, had been visiting at the apartment.

Ms. Finn-Faulk was treated at the hospital and released.

Officials are investigating the cause of the fire.

Chief Lattanzi said it appears to have started in the first-floor kitchen. Flames spread to the second floor before they engulfed the remainder of the apartment.

Marshal Brucker said the family was new to the area. Neighbors said the newcomers moved in about six months ago.

There were smoke alarms upstairs and downstairs and they were working. It's not clear why they did not wake the family in time.

The superintendent of the Clairton School District, Lucille L. Abellonio, had the following message on the district Web site:

"We are extremely saddened by the news of the fire that occurred in Clairton and took the lives of three children. The district mourns their loss and we will have counselors available at the school today for any student or staff member who would need assistance.

"We understand that the older children are in area hospitals and we will do all that we can to support them during this difficult time. When school resumes on Monday, the crisis team will be available to speak to all students."

The children who died all attended Clairton Elementary School. There were no classes today because of an in-service program for teachers. But Deborah Marshall, principal of Clairton Elementary School, said, some students stopped by the school complex this morning.

"Kids just want to know whether it's true or false what they've heard," she said. "Many of them are coming because it's hard to believe."

She described the children from the burned apartment as well-adjusted, each with "a wonderful smile and a wonderful story to tell."

Deausha Faulk, 6, Mrs. Marshall said, was in kindergarten and doing a leaf project. "She was happy about the leaf she had selected. They had to pick a leaf and write a story about that leaf."

Rachel Finn, 9, a fourth-grader, working on a school project called, "My Family," wrote about how she fit into her family and how she could make the school and community part of their family.

This was their first year in Clairton. The family came from Pittsburgh Public Schools.

Mrs. Marshall said, "They had adjusted to the district very well. We will miss each and every one of them."

The principal said the district is close-knit with about 800 students all in the same building.

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