Neighbor: "He Just Couldn't Get Them"

Tragedy has struck a small Washington County community.

Three children died Friday morning when a fast moving fire ripped through their home on John Johnston Road in Charity Chapel.

Christy Nelson, 9, David Nelson, 11, and Colton Mosley, 11, were all asleep upstairs when the fire started around 3 a.m.

A fourth child, Dylan Mosley, 9, managed to escape along with his mom, Virginia Nelson, and his step-father, David Nelson.

A neighbor says David Nelson tried to save the other three children, but the fire spread too fast.

"The father tried to go up there," says Melissa Simpson, who is also a volunteer fire fighter. "He just couldn't get them."

Children at Fruitdale School tried to cope with the loss of their friends. The school organized a balloon release in memory of the kids.

Investigators believe a heater caused the fire, but state fire marshals say the evidence is inconclusive. Nonetheless, Washington County Sheriff Richard Stringer says it is clear to him the fire was an accident.