UPDATE, 1/6/22, 9:52 a.m.: OPELOUSAS, La. (KLFY)– More information has been released on the house fire that left two children dead on Wednesday.

According to the Office of the State Fire Marshal, first responders arrived to house in the 1900 block of Jake Dr. to find four of the 6 occupants outside. One of them, an adult male, was trying to rescue two boys still inside. Firefighters later located a 12-year-old in the a hallway and an 11-year old in the living room by the front door. Official causes of death are still pending from the St. Landry Parish Coroner’s Office.

Follow an assessment, deputies have not been able to determine exactly what caused the fire, they know it began in the living room. Deputies cannot yet rule out electrical malfunction of several objects in the area including a powered couch, space heater and a full, multi-plug power strip.

“This is an incredibly sad case that we wish had a very different outcome,” said State Fire Marshal H. “Butch” Browning, “We encourage all families to take at least two things from this tragedy. The first is to get a smoke alarm for your home. The second is to have a practiced escape plan for your family, especially if you have children. Everyone should know two ways out of every room in your home and have a safe meeting place outside of the home to gather at to confirm everyone is out and unharmed.”

Deputies have also been unable to locate or find out whether the home had working smoke alarms.

ORIGINAL, 1/5/22, 5:07 a.m.: OPELOUSAS, La. (KLFY)– Opelousas Fire Department and Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s Office responded to a house fire around 1:30 a.m. on Jake Dr.

According to Fire Chief Charles Mason, “There were six people inside and four escaped.”

The two that didn’t escape were young boys, ages 11 and 12.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.