NEWNAN — A woman and four young children died early Saturday as a fire engulfed a home in west Georgia, and authorities said only an 11-year-old girl who was woken by her mother escaped. Firefighters were alerted at 1:17 a.m. Saturday to the blaze at the single-story home in Newnan. Georgia state Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens ruled that the fire was accidental and appeared to have originated in an electrical panel in the home’s den area. (AP)

Puerto Rico

More prisoners join hunger strike

SAN JUAN — A hunger strike among prisoners at the Guantanamo Bay base in Cuba keeps growing, with 100 of 166 prisoners joining the strike, Lieutenant Colonel Samuel House said Saturday. He said 19 are receiving liquid nutrients through a nasal tube to prevent dangerous weight loss. Prisoners began the strike in February to protest conditions and indefinite confinement. (AP)

New York

9/11 landing gear site under guard

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NEW YORK — Police said the alley near the World Trade Center where landing gear believed to be from a Sept. 11 hijacked plane was found remains a crime scene until medical examiners finish looking for human remains. On Saturday, police were guarding the alley, which was secured as a crime scene two blocks from the trade center site. Police said it will be protected until the search is completed. Workers this week discovered a rusted piece of landing gear wedged between a luxury apartment building and a mosque . (AP)

North Dakota

Flood threat eases as Red River crests

FARGO — The National Weather Service said the Red River seems to have crested about 50 miles upstream of Fargo, N.D., and it is not a top 10 flood. Forecasters said gentle snowmelt and little precipitation are helping keep levels below the predicted crests. Forecasters had expected the Red River in Fargo to crest in the 37-foot to 39-foot range, which has led volunteers to sandbag about 200 homes. Fargo residents battled three straight major floods beginning with a record crest of 40.84 feet in 2009. (AP)