By Bond Robertson 
On Saturday afternoon, a father went Christmas shopping in Bullhead City, Arizona, USA.
While he was gone, something unexpected happened.
Break the silence
NBC News He writes that a fire broke out in the house where five children were staying.
The man’s four children, as well as their cousin, died in the fire.
A four-year-old girl, as well as four boys aged 2, 5, 11 and 13, were the ones who died.
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Imprisoned
– The children’s father told investigators he was gone for about two and a half hours to buy food and Christmas gifts, police wrote in a report. press release.
It is not yet known how the fire broke out in the house.
Police believe the fire broke out in the entrance area on the first floor, and then continued up the only staircase in the house.
All the children were upstairs.
Four taken to hospital after tequila mistake
Run over neighbors
Neighbors are said to have tried desperately to rescue the children by using fire hoses, smashing windows and placing a ladder along the wall of the house, but to no avail.
The fire brigade extinguished the fire nine minutes after the first emergency call.
By then it was already too late.
Ingar with an incredible find: – Rare
Didn’t hear anything
Bullhead City Police Chief Robert Tripps calls the whole thing a terrible tragedy.
They are now working hard to find out what happened.
– Just like everyone else, we want answers, he tells NBC News.