Mom & her 3 small kids critical after house fire

  Eyewitness News' Lisa Colagrossi

(East Orange-WABC, October 1, 2007) (WABC) -- In East Orange, New Jersey -- a mother and her three children were badly burned when a fire broke out in their home early this morning.

Eyewitness News reporter Lisa Colagrossi is live in East Orange with the latest.

It was a rude awakening in East Orange when a young mother scrambled to save her children from their burning home. Now investigator remain at the scene, trying to figure out how it started.

Flames could be seen shooting from the roof of 159 North 15th Street.

The fire concentrated on a third floor bedroom and sent the 28-year-old mother and her three children running for their lives this morning.

"They were burnt...all their clothes were burnt off. It was terrible. It's a sight to see,"

All four of them were taking to the burn unit of St. Barnabas Hospital, where they are listed in critical condition. The children are ages 6, 3 and 2.

The homes in the East Orange neighborhood are very close together, so neighbors were worried the fire would spread.

"I was definitely concerned. We got a little water damage, but other than that, we're okay,"

The East Orange fire department put out the fire within an hour, but the investigation into the cause is ongoing.

Arson investigators from East Orange and the Essex County prosecutors office are on the scene.

The children's father was at work when the fire broke out, he is now at the hospital with his family.

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