Lt. Donnie Sullivan, Cleveland Fire Department arson investigator, said state and local investigators will begin work at the scene this morning.

Electric power was turned off to the remaining four apartments in the building, displacing several families, and the local Red Cross chapter was seeking shelter and meeting their other needs, officials said.

The names of the victims and the injured have not been released.

Chief Atchley said fire fighters arrived within three minutes of the 911 call and the apartment was nearly engulfed.

"We had been notified there were small children inside," he said. "When we got there, the mother was screaming. The guys were able to knock the fire down and get inside and get the children out and begin CPR."

Two firefighters entered to suppress the fire, Chief Atchley said, and two others went in to retrieve the boys. The firefighters were not injured.

Lt. Sullivan said the bomb and arson team was bringing a large truck with special equipment to begin the investigation this morning.

"We alert them anytime there is a fire death," he said.

The children are the third and fourth fire-related deaths here in less than a month. A July 5 fire killed a Bradley County man whose wife and children escaped their burning home. On Saturday, a Cleveland man died of smoke inhalation in an apartment fire.

Red Cross workers at the scene were helping displaced families Wednesday evening.

"To the best of my knowledge we have taken care of everyone without family resources," said Julia Right, a Red Cross volunteer.

Twelve people, believed to represent four families, were displaced, she said.

Lt. Sullivan said it is not clear yet if the apartment had a smoke alarm.

"Right now we are hitting that hard," said Chief Atchley. Cleveland residents can go to any city fire station and get a free smoke alarm, he said, or even bring their alarms to the stations and get batteries.

"We had a donation yesterday and we are using some of that money to buy batteries," Chief Atchley said.

Bradley County residents can take advantage of the same program at county fire stations.