Mother, two children killed in Highland Springs house fire

A mother and her two young children were killed in a pre-dawn house fire in Highland Springs today.

The victims were identified by a family member as Tasha Davis, and her daughter, Jazmine Whisnant, 9; and son, Jamie Whisnant, 3.

Corey Whisnant, uncle of the children, spoke briefly to a reporter after about two dozen family members wrapped arms around each other and prayed approximately 150 feet from the home at 14 N. Battery Ave.

The mother was pronounced dead at the scene; the two children died after being taken to VCU Medical Center.

Henrico Fire Capt. Chris Buehren said the three victims were all found inside the house when firefighters arrived.

The call came at 6:07 a.m., and the first firefighters arrived on the scene five minutes later to find heavy smoke throughout the small house and heavy fire in the kitchen area, said Buehren.

Firefighters brought out one person first, then went back in and brought out two others.

He said it was too early to determine whether they died from burns or smoke inhalation.

Buehren said authorities were in the early phases of the investigation and were unsure of what caused the fire or where in the house it started.