Woman, 4 children and 3 dogs found dead after "suspicious" fire at Missouri home

Police are investigating a suspicious fire near St. Louis that killed a woman and four children in what authorities are calling a "horrific tragedy."

Firefighters were called to a home in Ferguson at 4:23 a.m. Monday and found the building engulfed in flames. St. Louis County police Sgt. Tracy Panus said the five people who died were found inside the home.

Panus said in an email that "evidence located on the property" made the cause of the fire "suspicious," but she declined to elaborate. St. Louis Regional Bomb and Arson detectives are assisting in the investigation.