A hot plate is suspected of causing a massive fire in Brooklyn, leaving seven children dead and two others critically injured, Associated Press reports.

Firefighters were called to the Midwood area of Brooklyn at 12:23 a.m. on Saturday, shortly after it began. Over 100 firefighters responded to the call and tamed the flames around 1:30 a.m. Officials claim the mother jumped out of the window and screamed for someone to help save the children.

Sadly seven of the children died in the fire, ages ranging between five to 15-years-old. Officials claim the family only had a smoke detector in their basement.

They also believe a hot plate left on during Sabbath might have been the cause of the blaze. Firefighters called the fire one of the biggest blazes in the Orthodox Jewish area in the last seven years.

"This is the largest tragedy by fire that this city has had in seven years," Nigro said. "It's a tragedy for this family, it's a tragedy for this community, it's a tragedy for the city."

Police haven't been able to contact the father, who was away for a conference about the tragedy.

Source: Associated Press | Photo Credit: Screenshot