Mother burned pulling flaming clothes off child in La Center fire

LA CENTER, Wash. - A mother and daughter suffered burn injuries Wednesday morning in a house fire in La Center, Washington, according to firefighters.

Firefighters said it appears the fire started when the girl, age 9, tried to light a candle in a bathroom, although an exact cause for the fire has not yet been specified.

The girl's clothes somehow caught fire and her mother was injured pulling the flaming garments off the child, firefighters said.

Crews responded to a call about a fire in the home, located on West Fifth Street in La Center, at about 9:20 a.m. and found the injured pair.

The girl was described as having critical burn injuries and her mother had serious burns, according to a press release from Clark County Fire and Rescue.

The girl was taken by LifeFlight to the Legacy Emanuel burn unit and her mother was taken to the same location by ambulance. Their names were not released.

Firefighters said damage to the home was minor and the exact cause of the fire is still under investigation.