Multiple people, including children, were taken to hospitals after an early Thursday morning fire in Aberdeen.
Crews with the Aberdeen and Hoquiam fire departments responded to a report of a structure fire in the 900 block of Duffy Street after 4 a.m.
When firefighters arrived at the scene, there was heavy fire and smoke coming from the windows and roof of a three-story structure.
"I heard a boom and I saw the flames start and I heard the screams start immediately afterwards,” said Lydia Marano, neighbor.
The fire extended to the third floor and into the second floor kitchen.
Crews were able to contain and extinguish the fire.
Seven people escaped but fire officials said five of them were burned as they evacuated. Four of them, including three children, were taken to Grays Harbor Community Hospital. The fifth person had taken himself to the hospital.
“I tried to go up the stairs first, but there were just flames and I couldn't get up there,” said Brady Cardin, who escaped the fire. "It was just flames, man, it was amazing, it was like gasoline had been poured on."
One adult and two children were later taken to Harborview Medical Center for further treatment.
"All I heard was screaming, help me, help me, anybody please, somebody help, anybody, and I came rushing out and the mother with three kids who'd been burnt were out here in the street, they were all crying and screaming and they all had burns on them,” said Fawn Welch, neighbor.
Damage to the structure was estimated at $268,000.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
"I say my prayers, thank God, thank God, they could've got burned, it could've been way worse,” said Cardin.
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