A pre-dawn fire in a sofa workshop killed four people and injured two others seriously Monday in Lanzhou, capital of northwest China's Gansu Province, local fire fighters said.

The fire broke out in a three-story building in Beimiantan Village, Yantan Township at about 5"Four people were suffocated by the toxic gas released by burning sponge though the fire was extinguished two hours later by fire fighters.

A jump from the second floor saved the lives of two survivors, while two people were rescued by local fire fighters.

The cause of the fire was still under investigation.

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