A fire in Macon early Sunday morning has claimed the lives of three children and leaves one in critical condition.

Two teddy bears serve as a makeshift memorial outside the home on the 1100 block of James Street in Macon. According to Fire Chief Marvin Riggins, the house fire was reported about 1:35 a.m. Sunday. Neighbors outside on their porches Sunday afternoon said the kids were asleep when the fire erupted, but their mother, Colethia Williams, wasn't home.

"She had went to the store for some sinus medicine because she had just asked me for some,” neighbor Crystal James said. “By the time she came back somebody called her and she wasn't gone less than five seconds and it happened so quick."

Firefighters found four children in the one-story house. Three of the children, Nykhiya, 10, Jamarrian, 9, and Daija, 7, died. The youngest, J’lon, 3, was resuscitated and is now at the Burn Center in Augusta.
Riggins said Williams was on the scene while firefighters battled the blaze.

"The neighborhood is really torn because the kids are like the neighborhood children," neighborhood visitor, Denesha Cliett said.

"It's not real at all because I watched them come home every day when they get out of school," James said.

The three children went to Joseph B. Riley Elementary. While investigators won't say what started the blaze, James said a detective filled her in on some details.

"It started in the attic but like everybody said I think it had to do with the person working on her house cause he was messing with some wires."

Neighbors said Williams was having her house rewired last week. She came by the home on Sunday morning to pick up some belongings. Neighbors who ran into her said, she's emotional.

"She was like really depressed,” James said. “She didn't want to talk about it.”

For now, a memorial in the front yard is growing with teddy bears and flowers to remember the children that many said were full of life.

"It's a token of love to say you're in my prayers," Criett said.

The incident is still under investigation and it’s unknown at this time if any charges will be filed.