4-year-old half siblings die in accidental basement fire.

NEW YORK -- A basement blaze that killed 4-year-old half siblings was accidentally set by children playing with fire, authorities said Sunday.

The twin of one of the children survived the blaze, which was reported to authorities just before midnight Saturday in a two-story brick home in the Far Rockaway section of Queens.

Khalid Baylor, spokesman with the Fire Department of New York, said the fire was accidental, but he wouldn't elaborate on exactly what caused it.

Within minutes of police and firefighters arriving, the children were carried outside and rescue workers tried to resuscitate them as neighbors watched. The fire was under control less than an hour and a half later.

Two 4-year-olds, a boy and a girl, were pronounced dead at St. John's Episcopal Hospital. Police identified the boy as Jai'Launi Tinglin and the girl...