'My kids, my kids': Firefighters hold back mum as four sons perish in house fire
Firefighters have had to restrain a distraught mother who returned to find her home ablaze with her four children inside.
Tina Brazil had left the eldest of her four sons in charge of babysitting duties while she was away from the home in Lake Ozark, Missouri on Thursday morning.
She arrived home to find the home engulfed in flames so intense firefighters could not access the residence.
Neighbour Eddie Helt, who discovered the blaze after smelling smoke at 1am, also attempted to break into the house to save the children but the intense heat forced the 81-year-old back.
Multiple firefighting units arrived at the property before Ms Brazil who reportedly went “beserk” when she saw her house ablaze.
Mr Helt told the Daily Kansas Star he could hear the her screaming “My children! My kids! My kids!”
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He said it took five firefighters to restrain her boyfriend, Mike Andrews, from trying to get into the home.
Lake Ozark Chief Mark Amsinger said that when firefighters arrived at the home Thursday three sides of it had already collapsed.
He said Ms Brazil and Mr Andrews arrived as the fire was raging. It's not clear where they had been.
The children were identified as 14-year-old Tyler Otto, 8-year-old Cason, 5-year-old Max and 4-year-old Levi.
State fire marshal investigator Steve Grass says it's unlikely a cause will be determined because the damage was too extensive - but investigators do not suspect foul play.
Investigators didn't find any smoke detectors, but Mr Grass said they might have been destroyed in the blaze.
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