A 12-year-old girl and her friend escaped a tragic North Carolina house fire that took the lives of her four younger sisters.

Columbus County Sheriff’s Department units responded to a reported structure fire with entrapments at approximately 2:30 a.m. on Aug. 30, the department said in a statement on Tuesday, Sept. 2.

A female caller told a dispatcher that her residence was on fire and that four children remained inside.

“When the first deputy arrived on scene nine minutes after the initial call, the residence was fully engulfed in flames. Due to the severity of the fire, it was not possible to make a safe entry into the home,” the sheriff’s office said.

Two 12-year-old girls escaped the fire. Although the sheriff’s department did not release any names, Columbia County News reported that one of the girls was Winter Green, the older sister of the four deceased children.

“At this time, the names of the children will not be released, pending autopsy results from the North Carolina Medical Examiner’s Office,” the sheriff’s department said.

The deceased sisters were identified as Kalani Rae Melvin, Kendall Xaiya Melvin, Josephina Renee Melvin, Sophia Nachelle Melvin, per Columbia County News and Spectrum Local News. Their ages were 2, 4, 6 and 7, per Spectrum Local News, citing state investigators.

“Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we walk through this unimaginable loss,” their father, Patrick Ellis, said per Spectrum.

“I want to sincerely thank the people of Chadbourn and the surrounding communities for the incredible love, prayers and support you have shown my family during this devastating time. Your compassion has been a comfort to us as we grieve the loss of my four children,” he added.

An obituary for the girls said they “were bright lights who brought joy to everyone around them.”

“They loved being outdoors, whether at the pool, the beach, or soaking up the sunshine, and their laughter filled every space with warmth. Their days were happiest when singing, dancing, and sharing their favorite treats of strawberries and grapes,” the obituary continued.

There was also an individual tribute to each of the girls, such as Kalani who “loved sunsets” and Kendall who “adored rainbows.” As for Josie, she “never turned down pizza,” and Sophia’s favorite thing to do was watch Bluey.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“Our community is facing an unimaginable tragedy. We ask that everyone join together in support of the family and loved ones affected by this devastating loss. The thoughts and prayers of our agencies are with them during this extremely difficult time,” Sheriff Rogers said in a statement.

He asked that the community continue to offer “compassion and support for those impacted,” and also stated that “Everyone is presumed to be innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.”