UPDATE (4:30 P.M..):
Sheboygan Falls Police Chief Steven J. Riffel, who also serves as the director of public safety, has released the names of the family members:
Father: Christopher Maki, age 29
Mother: Kristine Maki, age 30
Natalie Martin, age 11 – died
Benjamin Martin, age 10 – in critical condition at Children’s Hospital, Milwaukee
Jenna Martin, age 9, - fled the home – with family
Carter Maki, age 7, - died
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UPDATE (2:15 P.M..): Police have revised reports that a 10-year-old died at Children's Hospital in Wauwatosa Wednesday. The child is in critical condition.
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A house fire has claimed the lives of two children in Sheboygan Falls, including an 11-year-old who tried to rescue two younger children from the fire, officials said Wednesday.
A fourth child, a 9-year-old girl, escaped from the burning home Tuesday night after the 11-year-old woke her up by yelling "fire, fire," and told her to run and get help, said Sheboygan Falls Public Safety Director Steven Riffel. The girl ran to a neighbor's house, and the neighbor called 911 at about 9 P.M..
"Very preliminary information is that the 11-year-old was able to wake the 9-year-old and give a warning to flee the residence. The 9-year-old did, believing the others were following," Riffel said. "The 11-year-old returned to assist the other two still upstairs, but none were able to flee the home."
The other victim was 7. Both were pulled from the fire by firefighters, but later died at hospitals from their injuries.
Police have revised reports that a 10-year-old died at Children's Hospital in Wauwatosa Wednesday. The child is in critical condition.
There were no adults in the house at the time, Riffel said. He said authorities were investigating reports that the parents may have been at a church Bible study at the time. Riffel did not say whether the children were siblings or related in some way.
He said smoke alarms were working. The cause of the fire is being investigated.
