JUDSONIA, Ark. — An investigation is now underway after a fire claimed the life of a young girl in Judsonia on Monday afternoon.
According to reports, just before 4:00 p.m., White County officials received a call of a fire at a home in the 100 block of Beacon Way.
Once deputies and firefighters arrived at the scene they saw that the home was engulfed in flames and were told that a young girl was still inside.
Several area fire departments including Judsonia FD, North White County Fire Department, Gum Springs Fire Department, and Searcy Fire Department worked together to extinguish the flames.
However, they were unable to get the fire extinguished before it claimed the life of the 11-year-old girl who was stuck inside the home.
After the fire was extinguished, White County Deputies then began to process the scene.
The Arkansas State Police Fire Marshall's Office and the White County Sheriff’s Office are working together to try and identify the cause of the fire and whether or not there was any criminal involvement in the incident.
The victim's body has been taken to the Arkansas State Crime Lab for an autopsy.
The investigation into this incident remains ongoing and we will update with more information as soon as it becomes available.