Fire burns apartment where kids were left home alone

MCMINNVILLE, Ore. – A young boy and girl were rescued from a burning apartment where they were left home alone on Friday morning, fire investigators said.

The fire started at the Jandina Park Apartments in McMinnville on Friday morning around 10:30, according to McMinnville Fire Marshal Eric McMullen.

He said a 5-year-old girl and 6-year-old boy were home alone in the apartment where a fire started. The fire was centered around a candle and investigators think a blanket somehow came in contact with the flame.

As smoke filled the apartment, the children told firefighters they ran and hid in a bedroom, McMullen said.

They had opened a window and broken out the screen when a neighbor saw them. She scooped them up and helped get them to safety.

Nobody was hurt.

McMullen said two parents and three kids lived in the apartment. The third child, a three-year-old boy, was with his parents outside the apartment at the time of the fire.

The flames heavily damaged two apartments. Two more units suffered minor damage.

All told, four families are out of their homes.

All three children are now in state custody and McMullen said police are also investigating.

The Red Cross said they are providing help to the four families, including free food, lodging and mental health services.