At least 1 dead, several injured in Missouri house explosion

(AP) — Police say a house explosion and resulting fire killed at least one person and critically injured several others early Friday morning just north of St. Louis. 

Police say the explosion happened around 1:20 a.m. in northern St. Louis County just west of Spanish Lake. 

Police and firefighters called to the scene found a house in flames and one person outside the house dead from injuries sustained in the fire. Police say four other people were taken to a hospital with life-threatening injures.

Police have not released the names or ages of those killed and injured, but there are reports that a homeowner told officials three of her children and possibly three other children were in the home's garage at the time of the explosion.