5 kids home alone die in fire as father is out Christmas shopping, police say

Five children left alone by the father of four of them when he went out Christmas and grocery shopping died when a fire raced through their two-story duplex Saturday evening, police in Bullhead City, Arizona said. All five were grandchildren of a local fire department employee, police said. Neighbors said they tried their best to get inside to get anyone who was there out but couldn't.

A 13-year-old boy, 5-year-old boy, 4-year-old girl and a 2-year-old boy, all brothers and sisters who lived there and an 11-year-old boy relative who was visiting all perished, police said, adding that all were in the same upstairs bedroom.

Firefighters arrived four minutes after the blaze was called in, police said.