Five people killed in Pendleton house fire

Five people were killed — including three children — in a house fire Sunday morning in southeast Pendleton, authorities said.

Two others, both adults, escaped the blaze and were flown to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in Portland, the East Oregonian newspaper reported. Their conditions were not immediately known.

Pendleton police Lt. Bill Caldera told the paper 911 dispatchers got a call shortly after 6 a.m. and crews were on scene of the two-story home on SE Court Place within two minutes in the northeast Oregon city of about 17,000.

But Fire Chief Gary Woodson said they arrived to find the home fully engulfed. It took over an hour to bring the blaze under control, officials said.

Police said they did not expect to identify the victims Sunday, so they could not comment on the relationship between the victims.

Caldera also said both the origin and cause of the blaze were unknown and under investigation.

Investigators have asked the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to assist in the investigation.