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3 children dead in Miami County house fire

Officials said the mother was able to escape the fire but could not get back in for her children due to flames and heavy smoke.

MIAMI COUNTY, Ind. — Three young children have died in a house fire Saturday morning in Miami County, according to the Howard County coroner. 

Around 10:45 a.m., firefighters and emergency crews were called to a fire in the 1300 block of East County Road 1300 South. 

Investigators said the mother, Laura Gingerich, 27, was in a downstairs bathroom while the children were in a second-floor room. She smelled smoke and tried to get to her children. The smoke was allegedly too thick for her to make it up the stairs so she then called 911.

The fire and smoke forced firefighters to make several attempts to rescue the children, who were located in an upstairs bedroom.

Officials said the three children were all found unconscious and not breathing. Miracle Gingerich, 6, was transported by ambulance to a Kokomo hospital. Steven Gingerich, 5, and Wilma Gingerich, 1, were transported by ambulance to a Peru hospital. All three children died at the hospital.

The Maconaquah School Corporation posted a message on its Facebook page Sunday and said counselors will be available this week at Pipe Creek Elementary, where Miracle and Steven went to school.

The school corporation also said donations for the family can be dropped off at the administration building at 7932 South Strawtown Pike in Bunker Hill. Checks can be made out to Maconaquah School Corporation, which will then go to the Gingerich family.

A GoFundMe account has also been started to raise money for the family.

At this time, the cause of the fire nor what caused the children's deaths have been determined.  

The investigation is ongoing. 

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