PHILADELPHIA — A woman and two young children were killed early Tuesday morning after a fast-moving house fire tore through a residence in Philadelphia’s Hunting Park section, officials confirmed.

The fire broke out around 1 a.m. in the 3400 block of Hope Street, sending thick smoke pouring from the second floor of the end-of-row home by the time firefighters arrived. First responders reported encountering heavy smoke and intense heat conditions almost immediately, prompting a rapid search-and-rescue effort inside the structure.

Despite those efforts, three occupants—a 45-year-old woman, a 6-year-old girl, and a 5-year-old boy—were found inside the home and later pronounced dead. Their identities have not yet been publicly released pending notification of family members.

Deputy Fire Chief Frank Hannan addressed the media at the scene, noting a critical concern uncovered during the initial investigation: there were no working smoke detectors in the home. He emphasized that the absence of functioning alarms significantly increases the danger to sleeping residents, especially during overnight fires when visibility is already limited.

Fire crews were eventually able to bring the blaze under control, but the home sustained significant damage, particularly on its upper level where the smoke was heaviest. Neighboring residents described waking up to sirens and the smell of smoke as first responders worked urgently to gain access to the burning property.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by fire marshals, and officials have not released details regarding how or where the flames may have started. Authorities say additional updates will be shared as soon as more information becomes available.

In the wake of the tragedy, fire officials are once again urging community members to check their smoke alarms regularly and ensure that every home has working detectors on each floor, especially near sleeping areas.