3 Children Burned In Wilmington Duplex Fire That Was Intentionally Set Ablaze

WILMINGTON, CA – Three children were hospitalized with burn injuries Friday that they suffered in a fire set intentionally at the Wilmington duplex where they live, and a suspect is in custody on suspicion of attempted murder, authorities said. A Los Angeles police officer suffered smoke inhalation in Thursday's fire while helping rescue one of the children, who range in age from 11 to 15, said Margaret Stewart of the Los Angeles Fire Department. The children and the officer were all taken to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, the fire department reported.

The two younger children, ages 11 and 13, were in critical condition and the older child, age 15, was in serious condition as of late Thursday night, said Los Angeles police Detective Meghan Aguilar. The officer was treated and released, she said.

The children's mother was examined at the scene and declined an ambulance trip to the hospital, according to Stewart.

Civilians flagged down officers around 5:45 p.m. Thursday and directed them to a two-story duplex in the 700 block of North Hawaiian Avenue and said there were children inside, Aguilar said.

An officer and two civilians began trying to make entry through safety bars on one of the duplex's windows and were able to rescue one of the children while firefighters made entry at another point and rescued the other two victims, Aguilar said.

Nearly three dozen firefighters doused the flames in 14 minutes, according to Stewart.

The suspect, who is related to another family who lives in the apartment with the children but is not related to the victims, allegedly entered the home and set a fire inside using an accelerant, police said. It wasn't immediately clear if he was allowed in or forced his way inside.

Authorities were directed by a tip to a residence in the area, where the suspect was taken into custody, Aguilar said.

The motive was under investigation but Aguilar said there was "nothing between the families that would have led to this."

City News Service and Patch staffer Emily Holland contributed to this post; Photo courtesy of LAFD Photo/Erik Scott