MERCED—

A tragic house fire has taken the lives of three people, including two 5-year-old children, Merced authorities say.

The incident happened at a home near E. 10th and D Streets around 12:34 a.m. Tuesday, according to a release from the Merced Fire Department. Dispatchers were told that people were reportedly trapped inside.

At the scene, crews encountered heavy smoke and flames emanating from the home. Firefighters soon found three people dead inside.

Witnesses told authorities that a 31-year-old man, a 28-year-old woman and a 13-month-old baby were able to get out of the home, but the man, upon realizing that the a 5-year-old boy and girl had not made it out, went back inside to try and save the two.

The man never came back out.

It took crews about 20 minutes to get the fire under control.

Both the woman and baby are recovering at a burn center in Fresno.

Authorities believe that the fire started in the living room of the home, but what exactly sparked the blaze is still under investigation.