LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) - Officials say a woman and an 8-year-old boy were killed in a Lakeland house fire.

The house was in flames when Lakeland firefighters arrived late Monday.

Authorities have not released the names of the people who died.

Their neighbor, Mark Mershon, heard an explosion Monday night and saw flames coming from the house across the street.

He and others knocked down a fence to get behind the house and reached inside a window to help a man, woman and children get out.

The state fire marshal's office is investigating.