Atlanta ( CNN ) -- Investigators in Georgia were looking Friday for a man who left the scene of a suburban Atlanta house fire that killed three children , authorities said . They said the fire was caused by a suspected methamphetamine lab in the Lilburn , Georgia , home . Gwinnett County Police Capt . Jake Smith said Ivan Gonzalez had been charged with two counts of murder Friday , a day after firefighters found him attempting to douse the blaze with a garden hose . Gonzalez , who Smith said received burns in the fire , told authorities he was a family member and was headed to the hospital to be near the children injured in the fire . Gonzalez , who is not related to the children , never reached the hospital , authorities said . Authorities checked other area hospitals and did not find Gonzalez . Gonzalez is described as 5 feet , 7 inches tall and 190 pounds , with a tattoo of the Virgin Mary on his leg . The victims , whose names were not released , are an 18-month-old girl and two boys , ages 3 and 4 . Passersby pulled the children from the burning building . The children were taken to Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta . One died Thursday and the others two died Friday morning . `` The children had significant burn injuries and significant smoke inhalation injuries , '' said Gwinnett County Fire Department Capt . Tommy Rutledge . Rutledge said the fire started in a hallway between the kitchen and a stairwell in the center of the house . Smith said a third murder count is pending against Gonzalez . Neibi Brito , the victims ' mother , is charged with drug trafficking , Smith said . `` The lack of responsibility , of course , is disturbing , '' Smith said . `` We have a tragic case involving three young children , but we 're going to treat it professionally and not let the emotions of it get in the way of the investigation in any way . '' CNN 's Cameron Tankersley contributed to this report .
Man charged with three counts of murder in fire that killed two children . Police believe meth lab chemicals started the fire in Lilburn , Georgia . Police search for suspect who attempted to set fire with garden hose . Mother is charged with drug trafficking .