ROCKFORD — The smell of charred wood and debris hung heavy in the air this afternoon as a mother grieved the Christmas Eve deaths of three of her children in a house fire.

Three of the woman's six children and the family's dog were found dead after fire crews were called to the two-story house at 3:40 a.m. today to battle the blaze. Toys, some of them appearing to be covered in soot, were strewn about the yard.

Five people — the mother, her three other children and an adult male relative — safely escaped from the home in the 2600 block of Mulberry Street after smoke detectors awakened them, said Rockford Fire Division Chief Matt Knott. The three surviving children were treated for burns at local hospitals, he said.

The mother, who was at a neighbor's house today, declined to comment. "I just lost three kids," she said — her eyes red and swollen — before closing the door.

Neighbors said the children, which include a set of twin boys, often could be seen playing outside. The older boys played basketball.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

"We believe it originated in the back of the house near the kitchen or dining room area," Knott said.

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Winnebago County Coroner William Hintz said the three children who died, two boys and a girl, were younger than 18. Their names have not been released to the public. Hintz said autopsies are pending.

The first engine crew that arrived at the home found heavy fire throughout the home, according to officials. Additional firefighters called to the home searched the second floor for residents, but had to turn back because of the severity of the fire.

After additional fire crews brought the fire under control, a second search of the second floor was performed. That's when firefighters found the bodies of the children and the dog.

"We were able to locate and save a cat," Knott said. "Animal control is providing care for that animal."

Neighbor Joe Blades, who has lived in the neighborhood since 1983, said he was awakened by the fire trucks and then saw the house on fire. He looked outside and "saw the front room picture window engulfed in flames and moments later (fire) popping out the top of the roof," he said. "(Firefighters) would get water on it and try to get it down. Then, it would pop up again."

Smoke detectors were installed in the home by members of the fire department, Knott said, after a "small extinguished fire" occurred in the home in October. The October fire was accidental and not believed to be related to the fire this morning, he said.

"We believe that one of the smoke detectors that we provided did alert the family," Knott said.

None of the 31 firefighters called to the scene were injured, according to the fire department.

Damage is estimated at $85,000. Knott said the home is uninhabitable.

Knott stressed the importance of having working smoke detectors inside residences as well as escape plans that include meeting places after fleeing from a fire.

"This time of year we see an increase in fires with candles. Use candles safely," he said. Also, "about 40 percent of our fires are cooking related."

Space heaters also cause more fires at this time of year and they should be positioned so nothing is within a 3- to 4-foot radius, Knott advised.

Kristen Zambo: 815-987-1339; kzambo@rrstar.com; @KristenZambo