ORLANDO, Fla. --
A mother and her three children are recovering after a devastating apartment fire in Orange County Saturday afternoon.
The fire destroyed several units at the Dunwoodie Place Apartments before fire crews could put it out.
WFTV learned that a mother in her early 20's was badly burned in the fire. Her three young children, all under the age of five, may have suffered smoke inhalation and they were all transported to various area hospitals.
Fire investigators believe one of the children may have been playing with a lighter and sparked a fire.
Krishawn Barnes lives next door and happened to pull into the parking lot just as one of the children ran out of the apartment to get help.
The child's mother was trapped inside the apartment with her other two children. Neighbors say she was in so much pain from her burn injuries she could do nothing to help them or herself out of the fire.
"She came out saying help me my baby's in the kitchen, when she came out her arms were burned on both sides and her foot was burned," said Barnes.
Orange County fire officials said 30 firefighters arrived on the scene within four minutes. But the fire had already destroyed all four units in the building and extreme heat made their job difficult.
Once the fire was out, crews took turns going in and out to wash down hot spots, while others cooled off at a rehab unit on scene.
The 18 people who lived in these apartments are thankful to be alive and for the Red Cross. WFTV was told none of the residents have renter's insurance.
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