'Our hearts are breaking:' Bell County School Center asks for prayers after deadly fire

Bell County School Center posted photos of three children who were killed in fire Tuesday and asked for prayers.

"Our hearts are breaking," said the post. "Please pray for the family and our Bell Central family."

Kentucky State Police and fire officials responded to the fire on Hurst Hollow Road in the Hutch community just before 6 a.m. Tuesday.

Investigators said Beulah Mullins, 59, Sierra Posey,12, Shawn Posey,8, and Canthia Posey, 11, were found dead inside the house.

Devereux Wilder lives next door. He told WVLT News Reporter Robert Grant that when he woke up he noticed the mobile home entirely engulfed in flames.

"The whole trailer was on fire -- the entire trailer. I watched it collapse. I ran out the back door but there's nothing I could do," he said.

The Wilder's weren't just neighbors, they were family. Devereux said the kids often came to play and he brought them to the bus stop every morning.

"They were wonderful kids. They were going to do great things," he said.

KSP said the three kids were living with their grandmother who had been their custodial guardian for more than five years.

The cause of the fire has not been determined. Officials say foul play is not suspected, but the investigation is expected to take some time to complete.

"At this time it's very early," said a KSP Officer. "We don't know exactly the cause of the fire, but it's just a very very sad day here in Bell County. Anytime that there's little kids involved it just makes it that much tougher."

Arson investigators examined the scene as part of standard procedure in the event of a fatal fire. An investigation remains ongoing.