Apartment fire kills dad, 2 girls

Man went back in to try to save children. A third is gravely hurt.

Blaze ripped through complex in Hemet, leaving an 8-year-old in grave condition.

A fire ripped through an apartment complex early Friday in Hemet, killing two children and their father who had rushed back into the burning building to try to save them.

Investigators believe the predawn fire started in the unit where a family of seven lived, including two girls, ages 4 and 12, and their 41year-old father, all of whom were pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities said an 8-year-old child is in grave condition.

“Our hearts go out to the family,” Hemet police Lt. Nate Miller said. “It’s my understanding that the 41year-old male went back inside to rescue other family members. He wasn’t seen alive after that.”

The fire broke out after 1:15 a.m. Video shows flames raging from a second-story unit, and smoke encompassing the block of Alessandro Street near Latham Avenue. Firefighters went inside the complex as residents fled. Two people seen in the video were wrapped in a blanket, crying.

The cause of the blaze is under investigation. The complex is home to roughly 40 people.

According to Hemet Fire Chief Scott Brown, investigators with the Hemet police and fire departments and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection will examine electrical and mechanical issues as potential causes, even a possible spark from the Christmas tree.

“The bottom line for us is that we’ve lost three people,” Brown said. “It’s a terrible tragedy.”