CLEVELAND — Two children died early Sunday in a fire that destroyed the top of a two-family house.

        A 4-year-old girl and a 6-year-old boy were trapped in a bedroom and could not be saved despite attempts by their mother and firefighters to get to them.

        Neither the Cleveland Fire Department nor the Cuyahoga County coroner's office would release their names Sunday.

        Their mother and another child, 2, who also lived in the second floor of the 2 1/2-story, wood-frame house, got out as did people residing below.

        Assistant Chief Mike Darnell said the fire call came in at 1:39 a.m., and firefighters were immediately alerted that two children were still in an upstairs bedroom.

        “The room was heavily involved in fire,” Mr. Darnell said. “We put the ladder up and tried to get into the window, but we had to put a hose in to attack the fire before we could get in.”

        He said the children were dead at the fire scene.

        Mr. Darnell said then fire's cause remained undetermined Sunday night.

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