Fire claims lives of three children

An early morning fire Saturday claimed the lives of three children and left five other people hospitalized, officials said.

Firefighters were called to a trailer home on Conestoga Trail south of Clovis at 2:33 a.m. Clovis Fire Department Battalion Chief Chris Elam said the home was “fully involved” when firefighters arrived and the injured were in the yard outside.

“It appears everyone was asleep (when the fire began). The children perished inside the residence,” Elam said.

Two of the adults were initially in critical condition and were transported to a hospital in Lubbock. The others injured -- one adult and two children -- were in “moderate” condition and transported to Plains Regional Medical Center in Clovis, Elam said.

All five of those injured have since been released from the hospital, Curry County Sheriff Michael Brockett said on Tuesday.

Officials identified the injured adults as Clara Martinez, David Sanchez and Thomas Sandoval, all from Clovis. The children were not identified.

Elam said initial information shows the children who died were 3, 5 and 11 years old.

The cause and location of where the fire began remained under investigation on Tuesday, Brockett said. Names of the deceased have not been released because they have not been positively identified, the sheriff said.

“The fire marshal is investigating,” Brockett said. “There is no indication of criminal intentions. It seems like it might have been an accident.”