Father, daughter die in Northwest Arkansas house fire

A girl and her father were killed Sunday in a Northwest Arkansas house fire, officials said.

The blaze began around 7 a.m. at 16999 Green Ridge Road in Garfield, Benton County Coroner Daniel Oxford said.

Oxford said the coroner's office responded to a call around 10:30 a.m. to find the home "pretty well completely burned down."

The bodies of Chevelle Rust, 5, and Jimmy Rust, 30, were found inside, authorities said.

The Pea Ridge School District confirmed in a released statement that Chevelle was a pre-kindergarten student.

"We hold our students and their families in the highest regard, and our hearts and prayers go out to the Rust family," the district said. "In times such as these, we come together as a community in support."

Additional counseling resources were arranged for students and the staff.

The exact circumstances of the house fire were not immediately known. A call to the Benton County sheriff's office went unanswered Monday afternoon.

Metro on 01/09/2018

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