DE SOTO, Mo. (AP) — An early-morning fire in an eastern Missouri home has claimed the lives of two children and their father, who initially escaped but ran back inside to rescue his son and daughter.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the fire started before 5 a.m. on New Year’s Day near De Soto, which is about 40 miles southwest of St. Louis.

James Manning and his wife, Deena, initially escaped, but the 39-year-old father returned to save his 7-year-old daughter and 11-year-old son. Jefferson County Sheriff Glenn Boyer says their bodies were found near a window at the back of the house.

Boyer says Deena Manning was unable to re-enter the house because it was fully engulfed in flames.

She was hospitalized in critical condition.

The fire is under investigation.