A family jumped out of a second-story window to evacuate a house fire in Colton that left eight people hospitalized.
A family member said six children and their parents were in the home near the Colton Civic Center when the fire broke out around 5:30 a.m. Firefighters said three people were hospitalized in critical condition.
“There was a significant amount of fire coming from the roof,” Colton Battalion Chief Tom DeBellis said. “It was a very intense fire.”
The homeowner’s brother said the family fled through a second-story window.
“The only way to get them out was through the upper window,” Emmanuel Flores said. “I think he had to jump out the window because the whole house was… engulfed in flames. Luckily, he got everyone out, but it came at a cost. He’s not feeling very well.”
Witnesses said she took blankets to distraught children gathered outside the burning house. She estimated the fire consumed the home in about 10 minutes.
“The house went up in flames very quickly,” said Yolanda Marin, a witness. “It was heartbreaking.”
Firefighters treated several victims at the scene to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby homes.
Details about the cause were not immediately available.
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