Mother, 26, and five of her children ages TWO to 10 killed in Michigan motel fire

Authorities say five children and an adult from the same family have been killed in a massive motel fire in southwest Michigan.

Benton Harbor authorities say the Cosmo Extended Stay Motel in Benton Harbor was fully-engulfed when they arrived about 1.45am Saturday.

Police identified the victim as 26-year-old Kierra Samuel, according to WNDU. 

Police identified the victim as 26-year-old Kierra Samuel. Samuel’s five children who died range in age from two to 10 years old

Her five children who died range in age from two to 10 years old. They had been identified as 10-year-old Marquise Thomas, seven-year-old Jerome Randolph, five-year-old Samuel Curtis, four-ear-old Savat Curtis and two-year-old Avery Curtis.  

One child, also two, is being treated at a local hospital, WSBT-TV reports. 

Along with the child, four other residents were taken to the Lakeland Medical Center. They were joined by four first responders and all had been treated for smoke inhalation. 

27 rooms of the motel located near the shores of Lake Michigan were occupied at the time of the fire.

A man at the scene believed that the fire may have started in his room. 

27 rooms of the motel located near the shores of Lake Michigan were occupied at the time of the fire

‘As I woke up my bed was on fire. I said “Oh my God.” I got my sheets and wet them and I tried to throw them on the bed and as I throw it on the bed it didn’t work. So I asked the person above me for some salt. As I throw salt on there I hurry and jump out and once I jump out the hole room explode flew,” said Leroy Johnson.

Red Cross is helping those who have been displaced by the fire as a majority of the homes have been damaged.

The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department is leading the investigation, which also will include the state fire marshal.