House fire claims seven lives

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Dec. 18 (UPI) -- At least seven people died early Thursday when fire destroyed their Grand Rapids, Mich., home, authorities say.

The seven victims range in age from 2 to 73, officials said. Cause of the blaze was not immediately known.

The fire was spotted around midnight by a passerby who called 911, WOOD-TV, Grand Rapids, reported. Firefighters were on the scene in three minutes, WOOD-TV said. But officials say flames were already shooting through the front door onto the porch, minimizing any chance of rescue.