House fire kills mother and three kids

Mother and her three children were killed by fire gutted a home in Illinois suburb southeast of St. Louiearly early Friday, authorities said.

The woman, whose name was not immediately released, was 32 years old, Deputy St. Clair Coroner Curt Schildknecht said. He identified the children as a 9-year-old boy and two girls, ages 10 and 11.

Fire marshals were investigating the cause the fire, which had been reported shortly after midnight.

The blaze destroyed much of the roof and melted the awnings in the front of the house, leaving mostly a charred shell.