Saint Pauls, N.C. — Four people, including three children, were killed during a house fire in Robeson County.

The fire happened early Sunday outside the town of Saint Pauls, which is south of Fayetteville.

Witnesses said the adult died trying to save the children.

"I didn't want to see it. My heart – I'm 90 years old – I can't take it,” relative Icey Mae Ray.

Ray's great nephew, Terry Glover, died in the fire.

Investigators said Glover, 40, came home around 1 a.m. Sunday and smelled smoke. He then tried to get everyone out of the house.

His girlfriend, Van Bullard, had been asleep. She and three children escaped the flames.

Glover went back inside to rescue the other children, but was apparently overcome by smoke.

He and two of his children – Jalen Glover, 7, and Essence Glover, 11 – were killed. Another child, Savannah Johnson, 1, also died. She was Bullard's granddaughter.

"It's just a shock. When I got the phone call at 1 o'clock. It just was a shock." Crystal Glover said.

Crystal is Terry's sister.

"I'm gonna miss them, because I used to take them to school every morning. They were very special kids," she said.

Firefighters found a kerosene heater in the living room, but do not believe the fire started there.

"We're being strong, trying to make it. Holding it together," Crystal Glover said.

Investigators were treating the fire as accidental, but the caused had not been determined Monday afternoon.