Dad, 2 kids critical from burns in Benton City house fire

A father was seriously hurt pulling his two children from a burning home in Benton City early Monday, now all three are in critical condition.

The 7-year-old girl and 10-year-old boy were inside when the blaze began about 7 a.m. Their father and mother, who work at a vineyard next to the home, spotted the smoke pouring out and rushed to the house on Appaloosa Lane off East Kennedy Road.

A co-worker Edyn Trigueros said he also came running. They couldn’t get in through the door, so they broke a window, and Trigueros helped boost the father, Sergio Hernandez, inside.

Hernandez found the kids in a bedroom and carried them outside. Trigueros said both were in bad condition.

When Benton County Fire District 4 crews arrived, everyone was outside.

The Hernandez and the kids were flown to Seattle’s Harborview Medical Center after initial treatment at Kadlec Regional Medical Center. Harborview is the only Level 1 trauma center and burn unit in the state.

Hernandez’s brother, Benito, told the Herald later on Monday that all three had been in and out of surgery since they arrived in Seattle.

He wanted to thank everyone for their support.

Trigueros said the family had lived in the home for three years.

District 4 Capt. Ed Dunbar said his crews were helped Monday by firefighters from Benton County Fire District 2, the Richland Fire Department and West Benton Fire and Rescue.

Firefighters planned to monitor the smoldering home for the rest of the day, Dunbar said.

“The building’s not safe for us to go inside, so we’re just working on putting out the hot spots when we can,” he said.

Benton County sheriff’s deputies will work with District 4 officials to investigate the cause. He said they hope to be able to go inside on Tuesday.

Dunbar said the house is a total loss.

This story was originally published July 31, 2017 at 10:51 AM with the headline "Dad, 2 kids critical from burns in Benton City house fire."