EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. — An early-morning fire that killed five siblings younger than 10 Friday occurred on their mother’s birthday and just months after their previous home was destroyed by another fire.
The latest fire was reported about 3 a.m. on the second floor of an apartment building at 560 North 29th Street, across from the playground at Annette Harris Officer Elementary School in East St. Louis.
Police and fire investigators haven’t said what caused this blaze or commented on the one at the family’s previous address. The case is under investigation by local authorities and the Illinois fire marshal’s office.