it was really hard. devastated neighbor robert spencer said he tried to get survivors away from the inferno. it was everywhere. coming from everywhere. it s like i m living in this room. reporter: survivor and mother, kate malone is a constituent service aide to baltimore congressman elijah cummings, who is stunned. my office is going to do everything in our power to embrace them during this very, very difficult time. an 8-year-old girl led her mother and siblings out. the 8-year-old insisted on bringing the 5 and 4-year-old out, along with the mother. reporter: investigators do not know what caused it. baltimore s mayor said the space heater is one of many possibilities. survivors told bystanders, the flames came from the first floor. six children gone. a community devastated. it crumbled my heart. yeah. it was crumbling my heart right now. one of things was to look at that photograph. of the kids. some of whom did not survive. baltimore s mayor catherine