A young woman and her disabled child died in a Gretna house fire early Friday.

Four other children, ranging from 20 months to 7 years old were able to escape the fire.

The victims were identified as 25-year-old Brandi Morango and her eight-year-old daughter Kaylee Martinez.

According to State Fire Marshall Butch Browning, the fire started in the living room where burned paper and blanket were found in the debris.

Browning said that interviews with the surviving children revealed that two of the middle children were playing with paper in the living room and that the four-year-old lit some of the paper on fire. The oldest child, who was in a bedroom, smelled the smoke and went into the living room where he saw his younger brother throw a blanket onto the flames and then the pillows.

Browning said the fire spread quickly and went out of control. He said the children tried to wake their mother who was asleep, but they were unsuccessful.