Fire captain: 4 children, 1 adult critical following Phoenix apartment fire

3/23/2014
ASSOCIATED PRESS

PHOENIX — Authorities say four children and one adult are in critical condition following an early morning apartment fire in west Phoenix.

Fire department Capt. Jonathan Jacobs says firefighters at 12:45 a.m. today responded to a report of a blaze in a second floor unit of an apartment building.

He tells The Associated Press that firefighters battled heavy smoke to quickly put out the fire and found the victims, most of whom were unconscious.

Likely from the same family, there was one adult female and four children ranging in age from five months to 14 years.

Jacobs says they’re all in critical condition and hospitalized in pediatric or burn facilities.

The captain says it’s too soon to tell what caused the fire.

Nearly 30 other people who live in the building were displaced because of electrical damage and other problems.