HOUSTON -- Four people, including two children, were killed in a house fire on Saturday, according to the Fire Department of Garland, about 22 km northeast of Dallas, Texas, the United States.

Just after 1:00 am, firefighters were called to the house, which was engulfed in flames with people still inside.

"The fire department made rapid entry in an attempt to rescue the victims, but were unable to save them," the department said.

There were nine people inside the home at the time of the fire. Five were able to escape, but four others, including two adults and two children, did not make it.

The fire began in an enclosed back yard of the house, fire department officials said, adding while the fire did not seem to be intentional, the cause was still under investigation.