GREENE COUNTY (WCYB) — Two children are dead after a family's trailer caught fire early Sunday morning in Greene County.
Officials said the call came in just after 5 a.m. from a trailer behind a home in the 700 block of Pruitt Road North. The trailer was on the far side of Greeneville, near Mosheim.
According to the Mosheim Fire Chief, a family of four lived in the single wide trailer. Officials said the parents, Christopher and Lauren Harris, made it out safely. Their two children, Joshua Long and Jace Long, ages 4 and 6 respectively, died in the blaze.
"They were good little boys," said Patrick Flannery, a family friend and neighbor. "They were always laughing playing, cheerful."
The Greene County Sheriff's Office said the fire woke up the parents, but because of the extent of the fire, they could not reach the children after several attempts.
"[Christopher] tried to get to them and couldn’t do it. Tried again and just couldn’t do it. Tried about three times he told me and couldn’t do it," Flannery said.
Neighbors and officials said the fire had engulfed the trailer when they arrived.
The Greeneville Fire Department, Mosheim Fire Department, Midway Fire Department and Town of Mosheim Volunteer Fire Department all responded to the fire.
Neighbors say a third child was staying at a family member's house next door and survived.
The Tennessee State Fire Marshal's Office is investigating with help from the Greene County Sheriff's Office and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. The Red Cross also went to the scene.
Officials said the bodies will be sent for autopsy.
"They just need prayers and support to get through this after losing two lovely boys," Flannery said.
Jace was a student at Mosheim Elementary School, and students and teachers mourned his loss on Oct. 15.
Extra counselors were at the school, and teachers explained the tragedy to the students. They spent part of the morning drawing pictures of their favorite memories with Jace.