Fire Chief Dan White says the children's parents were in a downstairs bedroom and were awakened by a smoke alarm on their level but couldn't reach the children because of the smoke and flames. The parents escaped from the fire, which was reported at 1:22 a.m.

White says the fire appears to be accidental but police served a search warrant on the home later, based on items that officers saw during the initial call. Among the items seized were a space heater and a small amount of suspected methamphetamine. Officers say not enough meth was on hand to indicate there was a lab in the home.

The children were Kristan Frazier, 13; Kimberly Frazier, 11; Katelyn Mahmens, 9; Kaila Frazier, 8; and Kiya Frazier, 5. The father is Jamie Frazier and the mother is Kerry Mahmens Frazier.

The bodies were sent to the state Crime Laboratory in Little Rock for autopsies. Police say the items seized during the search will also be sent to the lab to be analyzed.

Fire officials described the house as 1½ stories, with a narrow stairway leading to the upstairs. White says he had to turn sideways to get through to the second floor.