JONESBORO -- Authorities identified two children Thursday who died in a Wednesday afternoon house fire near downtown Jonesboro.
A man, whom police identified only as the boyfriend of the children's mother, was injured in the blaze. His condition was unknown.
A passer-by reported the blaze at 708 Freeman St. about 4 p.m. Wednesday.
Firefighters found the body of Dawson Popejoy, 1, in a bedroom. Josh Richards, a Craighead County deputy coroner, said the toddler was pronounced dead at the scene. Skylar Hill, 4, was taken to St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro where he died, Richards said.
Fire Chief Kevin Miller said the home, a duplex, was in flames when firefighters arrived. It took about an hour to contain the blaze, he said. The adjoining duplex also was damaged.
Authorities did not know the cause of the fire and were continuing their investigation.
The Police Department's Criminal Investigation Division also is investigating, said Paul Holmes, a Police Department spokesman.
State Desk on 11/06/2015