A man and three small children - reportedly all under the age of three - were killed when the blaze destroyed a home. News reports say five people in the home managed to escape after flames erupted at about 5 a.m. Thursday morning.

Band councillor Cory Meekus says the man who died had gone back into the house to save the children.

He says grief counsellors from neighbouring communities are heading to Deer Lake to help residents deal with the loss.

Deer Lake is a remote community about 300 kilometres north of Kenora.

The cause is being investigated by the local coroner's office, Nishnawbe Aski Police, provincial police and the Ontario Fire Marshal's Office.