Six people, including four children, have perished in a house fire that broke out early Wednesday in a Youngstown, about 70 miles southeast of Cleveland, the local fire chief informed.

The fire crew found six bodies after the blaze was put out. Two adult females and four children with ages from 2 to 8 were found inside the shattered home on Youngstown’s east side, Chief John O'Neill told reporters.

According to the fire crew, which said they believe the fire broke out in suspicious conditions, the blaze started in the front of the house, either on the porch or just inside the front door.

The first thought of Police Detective Sgt. Patrick Kelly, who is investigating the cause of the fire, was that someone might have used some kind of accelerant to start the fire on the front porch. Homicide detectives were also sent to the scene and an arson team with dogs focused on the area around the front porch.

The fire engulfed the building at about 5:30 a.m. and at that time there were at least five other people in the house, O'Neill said.

Three of those who made it alive from the flames are treated at St. Elizabeth Health Center, hospital spokeswoman Tina Creighton said. Their names weren’t released.

Police are currently investigating the relationship between those who were inside the home when the fire broke out. According to O’Neill, police investigators are treating the blaze as a potential arson.