HIGHLAND PARK, Mich. -- Three children and a woman died in a massive overnight house fire that spread to four other homes and a space heater may be to blame, said Emergency Financial Manager Art Blackwell.

Woman, 3 Children Killed In House Fire

Five homes caught on fire on the 200 block of Waverly Street near Woodward and Second avenues at 3:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Willie Dale, who lived in one of the homes with seven family members, said he managed to get out of the fire with his 10-month-old daughter, his girlfriend and his cousin, the mother of the deceased children.

His 51-year-old mother, Josephine Dale, and his cousin's three children did not make it out of the fire, according to Blackwell. Their bodies were recovered in the basement of the charred home.

Dale identified the children as Orlando Glover, 10, Zeryha Dale, 8, and Melvin Turner, 4.

Dale said he heard his mother shouting for them to get out of the house and said he believes his mother stayed in the home to attempt to get the children out.

"We woke up with everybody saying, 'Get out of the house,'" said Dale. "I was trying to grab her kids but I couldn't. It was dark. There was too much smoke and I was choking."

A neighbor told Local 4 the family was nice and every time he needed a laugh he would go to their home.

Highland Park Fire Capt. Patrick McCelland said it will be difficult to confirm what started the fire because of the amount of damage.

Dale said his cousin, who owned the home, did not have heat and was using the space heater to heat the home.

The Highland Park fire chief said the family did not have gas service, but they had electricity, which powered the gas heater.

"It's a tragedy," said Highland Park Mayor Hubert Yopp.

The deceased children's mother is being treated at Henry Ford Hospital. Local 4 has learned she had to be sedated at the hospital. Health officials said she will make a full recovery from the injuries she sustained in the fire.

The entire home was destroyed and only charred rubble remains.

Police said three homes were vacant.

The cash-strapped 2.9-square-mile city that neighbors Detroit has been run by a state-appointed emergency financial manager for years.

When asked why firefighters waited nearly two hours after they arrived to the fire to call for backup, Blackwell said, " We have a fire department. We have complete ability to put out a fire…. We've added more equipment in Highland Park then they've have in last 10 years," he said.

Detroit Energy has set up a nonprofit heat and warmth fund called THAW to provide energy assistance for families in need.

Donate or learn at THAW Online.