Macon-Bibb County Fire Chief Marvin Riggins says the fire early Monday in Macon was ignited by a space heater.

The children who died in the fire are identified as 12-year-old Zanesia Hollis and 4-year-old Mekala Barron. Mr. Riggins says the younger child's body was found near a window in a bedroom too late for firefighters to try to save her life.

The Macon Telegraph reports the 7-year-old was airlifted to the Joseph M. Still Burn Center at Doctors Hospital in Augusta, where a spokeswoman said he was in critical condition.