KANSAS CITY, Mo. _ Four brothers who were home alone were found dead after an early morning fire destroyed a house Thursday in Lake Ozark, Mo.
The children were identified as 14-year-old Tyler Otto, 8-year-old Cason Otto, 5-year-old Max Otto and 4-year-old Levi Otto.
The School of the Osage posted on its Facebook page Thursday that it "is saddened today about the loss of four of our students in a house fire early this morning. Additional counseling support is available for students impacted."
Firefighters from the Lake Ozark Fire Protection District were dispatched at 12:51 a.m. and arrived at 1 a.m. to find the house at 1636 Carol Road engulfed in flames. They were unable to enter. Parts of the single-story structure had collapsed, and the heat was so intense the fire spread to the neighboring house.
Neighbors said the residents' vehicle was gone, so they thought no one was home. Fire officials said the children's mother and a man arrived home and told firefighters that four children were in the house.
When firefighters were finally able to enter the home they found the bodies of all four children and two pets. Autopsies on the children this week will determine the causes of death.
At a news conference Thursday afternoon, fire officials said the cause of the fire may never be determined because the damage is so extensive, but they said there was no reason to suspect it was deliberately set. Because of the time of day, the fire probably went unnoticed for some period of time. Gusty winds off the lake probably contributed to the growth of the fire.
Firefighters did not locate any smoke detectors, but they may have been destroyed in the flames, officials said.
The Osage Beach, Sunrise Beach, Eldon and Rocky Mount fire departments assisted in fighting the blaze. The Missouri State Fire Marshal's office will continue to investigating.
Lake Ozark is about 135 miles southeast of Kansas City.
