The Monroe County girls, both Madison School students, were trapped during a house fire on the second floor of their home. Their mother and her boyfriend survived the blaze.

The adults tried to save the girls but were pulled away by the firefighters concerned with their safety.

Both girls, 15-year-old Sara and 7-year-old Maria Brown, died before firefighters could reach them. They were asleep at the time of the fire.

The Madison Fire Department says the fire happened around 5:00 a.m. and required help from the Paris Fire Department, Little Dixie Fire Department, Monroe County Sheriff's Department and the Missouri State Fire Marshal's office. The fire is under investigation by the Missouri State Fire Marshal's office, and the child death review board is looking over the case.

A funeral service will be held on Friday at the school for the two girls.

Madison School administrators say they will do what they can to help students cope with the loss.

"We brought in the crisis counselors, they came from Mexico, the Arthur Center," Madison School Superintendent Fred Weibling said. "Then also some area school counselors and they just provided assistance as the students requested it."

The mother and her boyfriend were not seriously injured in the fire and are now staying with relatives.