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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Four siblings ranging in age from 2 to 7 were in critical but stable condition after being rescued as flames ripped through their small Los Angeles home, fire officials said Tuesday.
Crews arriving at the scene late Monday found the one-story bungalow fully engulfed in flames as neighbors shouted at them that people were still inside, according to Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey.
A firefighter sprinted to the rear of the smoke-filled home and entered through one of the few windows without security bars, Humphrey said.
The firefighter pulled out the children, all of whom Humphrey said were "nearly lifeless" and severely burned. The 2, 3 and 5-year-old boys and their 7-year-old sister were critical but stable early Tuesday, officials said.
Their mother had left on a local errand and returned to find her 430-square-foot house ablaze, Humphrey said.
It took 90 firefighters about 15 minutes to knock down the flames. No firefighters were hurt.
The 93-year-old house had at least one smoke alarm, but it wasn't immediately clear if it was functional.
The cause of the fire was under investigation.
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