Woman, 2 children dead in North Philadelphia rowhome fire

Woman and 2 children killed in North Philly rowhome fire

An investigation is underway after a fire claimed the lives of a 46-year-old woman and two children in North Philadelphia.

PHILADELPHIA - Two children and a woman are dead after an early morning rowhome fire in North Philadelphia.

What we know:

Firefighters responded to the 3400 block of Hope Street around 1 a.m. for reports of a rowhome fire.

Crews arrived to find smoke billowing from the second story windows from a fire on the first floor. 

According to Philadelphia police, a 46-year-old woman, later identified as Nidre Annette Ayala, was found unresponsive on the stairs leading to the second floor.

Police say two children, 6-year-old Kataleya Garcia and her 5-year-old brother Sebastian Rodriguez-DeJesus, were found unresponsive in an upstairs bedroom with severe burns. 

Both children were taken to CHOP and the woman was taken to Temple University Hospital where they were all pronounced dead.

Investigators say there were no working smoke alarms in the house. 

Fire officials did not report any intial indication of arson.

What we don't know:

Investigators are working to determine the cause of the deadly fire.