Woman, 3 Children Injured in Apartment Fire

An Ocean Beach woman and her son were critically injured in an early morning apartment fire that may have been started by an unattended cigarette, San Diego officials reported. Two other children were also injured in the blaze in the 5000 block of Long Branch Avenue.

Harriet Hamilton, 34; her son Leonard Riley, 5, and Anthony Manago, 5, were taken by paramedics to UC San Diego Medical Center after the 4:30 a.m. fire.

Hamilton, who suffered burns on 36% of her body, and Anthony Manago, who was burned over 15% of his body, were listed in critical condition Tuesday, hospital officials said. Riley suffered burns on his hands and was listed in serious condition. All three were also being treated for smoke inhalation in the intensive care unit.

Another child, Hillary Manago, 6, was treated for smoke inhalation and released by UC San Diego to Hillcrest Receiving Center until her mother was located several hours after the fire.

Ruled Accidental

Hamilton was not related to the Manago children, who were spending the night at her apartment.

Arson team investigator Steve Mackaig said the fire originated in the living room when either a cigar or cigarette ignited a couch. The fire was ruled an accident, he said.

Neighbors reported the fire after they were awakened by Hamilton’s cries for help, Mackaig said.

“The neighbors started looking out their windows and saw the fire. They came over with their garden hoses and started watering it down,” Mackaig said. “(Hamilton) handed the little girl to neighbors, but returned inside the apartment to rescue the other kids. She was overcome by the smoke and was found unconscious.”

Officials said the fire had been extinguished by neighbors by the time they arrived, but Hamilton and the two boys were trapped inside the smoke-filled apartment because the burning couch was near the front door. Rescuers broke a window in the back bedroom to reach Hamilton and the boys.

The fire caused about $33,000 in damage to the living room, kitchen and exterior, according to Fire Department spokesman Larry Stewart. An adjacent apartment was not damaged, he said.