Five people, including a child, died after a fire broke out early Thursday at an apartment building in southwest Missouri, authorities said.

Bob Lombard, chief of the Wheaton Fire Department, told The Associated Pressthat the fire was reported about 3:20 a.m.

Fire crews arrived at the building within minutes of getting the call and found the victims in two apartments.

Wheaton is located about 70 miles southwest of Springfield and has about 700 residents.

Front Section, Pages 2 on 11/23/2012