OIL CITY — A house fire in northwestern Pennsylvania claimed the lives of three people over the weekend, authorities said.

The Oil City fire department was called to the home shortly before 1 a.m. Saturday. Chief Mark Hicks told the Oil City Derrick that arriving crews made “numerous attempts to do primary searches” for people reported possibly trapped, but deteriorating conditions brought the search to a halt.

Hicks said firefighters resumed searching once the fire was deemed under control, and found the three victims.

The Oil City police and fire departments are investigating along with a state police fire marshal.