4 people, including 2 young children, found dead after house fire in Selawik

Four people, including two young children, died in a house fire early Tuesday morning in the Northwest Alaska village of Selawik.

The fire was reported locally starting at 4:30 a.m., Alaska State Troopers spokesman Austin McDaniel said.

By the time residents noticed the flames, the house was heavily involved, McDaniel said. But people used shovels and snow to try to put out the fire.

Located inside the house were the bodies of the family who lived there, he said: Fred Cleveland, 49, Racienda Russell, 33, and 4- and 6-year-old children.

The remains were sent to the State Medical Examiner Office for an autopsy and identification, troopers said.

A trooper responded to the community Tuesday morning, and a team of deputy state fire marshals traveled to Selawik from Anchorage.

The origin and cause of the fire are under investigation by the Alaska State Fire Marshal’s Office, though nothing suspicious was discovered during a preliminary investigation, troopers said.

Based on preliminary investigation, deputy fire marshals do not believe the home had working smoke detectors, McDaniel said.

This is a developing story. Check back for details.