Three people believed to be a father and his 3-year-old and 18-month-old daughters were killed in a house fire in Fountain County early Tuesday.

A man called police just after midnight to say his home in Attica was filling with smoke, but he couldn't find the fire.

When firefighters arrived three minutes later, they found the house engulfed by flames. Crews battled the blaze for several hours before finally putting it out.

29 year old Lance Ward, his daughters, 3 year old Ryleigh and 18 month old Sage were killed.

The mother was running an errand to the store and returned home to find the flames.

Lance Ward was found holding Sage in his arms, while her sister was found between the family's two dogs.

The cause of the fire was under investigation